Prateek Kuhad, the Indian singer-songwriter behind hits like "Cold/Mess" and "Kasoor", is set to make his film acting debut in the upcoming movie "Drowning" (or "Doobna" in Hindi/Urdu). This marks a significant step for the artist, who has already achieved success in the music industry. The film, directed by Dar Gai, is a unique blend of genres, drawing inspiration from the Safdie brothers' "Once" and Lars von Trier's "Dancer in the Dark", set against the backdrop of Delhi's contemporary music scene. Kuhad plays Tarush, an indie musician who finds himself entangled in the criminal underworld after a single breakout hit. The project is a collaboration between Marginal MediaWorks, D36, and Jugaad Motion Pictures, with a story developed by a group of talented individuals including Sanjay M. Sharma, Milan Chakraborty, Abhi Kanakadandila, Dheer Momaya, and Gai himself.
Kuhad's involvement in the film is a natural progression from his earlier collaboration with Gai, who directed the video for his song "Cold/Mess". The video's success, reaching No. 1 on Spotify India and featuring on Barack Obama's year-end playlist, showcased Kuhad's versatility and talent. His third album, "Full Moon Chamber", further solidified his global presence, with sold-out tours across various continents. Kuhad's representation by CAA and Big Bad Wolf India, along with Everyday Rebellion's worldwide management, highlights his growing influence in the industry.
Dar Gai's directorial credits include the Netflix-streamed "Three and a Half", which gained critical acclaim after its festival run, and "Namdev Bhau: In Search of Silence", which played at prestigious film festivals. Gai's vision for "Drowning" is to capture the essence of life in the present day, blending realism, humor, tragedy, and chaos. The film aims to reflect the complexities of the contemporary music scene, a sentiment echoed by Abhi Kanakadandila, who sees a gap in the representation of South Asian music culture on screen.
The movie is part of Marginal MediaWorks' broader international slate, which focuses on South Asia and aims to tap into a vast market of two billion people, with a significant youth population. The company's previous productions, such as "The Rose: Come Back to Me", "Cypher", and "Camp", have already garnered attention and awards. With "Drowning", Marginal MediaWorks is set to further solidify its position in the industry, bringing a fresh and unique perspective to the world of cinema.
