Prateek Kuhad, the acclaimed Indian singer-songwriter behind popular tracks like “Cold/Mess” and “Kasoor,” is stepping into acting with his debut feature film role. The project, titled “Drowning” (or “Doobna” in Hindi and Urdu), will be directed by Dar Gai and filmed in New Delhi. The production represents a collaboration between Marginal MediaWorks, Los Angeles-based D36, and Mumbai-based Jugaad Motion Pictures, marking Marginal’s inaugural fiction feature developed in South Asia.
In the film, Kuhad portrays Tarush, an indie musician navigating Delhi’s music scene who experiences sudden success with a hit song but becomes trapped by a criminal record label executive. The project builds on an existing creative relationship between the singer and director Gai, who previously helmed the acclaimed music video for “Cold/Mess,” which earned Rolling Stone’s Music Video of the Year accolade. Kuhad’s “Cold/Mess” reached number one on Spotify India and gained international recognition when it was included on former U.S. President Barack Obama’s year-end playlist.
Producer Sanjay M. Sharma described the film as blending elements of the Safdie brothers’ style with John Carney’s “Once” and Lars von Trier’s “Dancer in the Dark” within contemporary Delhi’s music landscape. The production team includes Sharma, Milan Chakraborty, Abhi Kanakadandila, Dheer Momaya, and Dar Gai. Gai, a Ukrainian filmmaker based in Mumbai, aims to capture the chaotic and inescapable reality of modern life through the project.
Originally reported by Variety →
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