Pearl of the Desert

Synopsis

In the Indian desert, Moti sings out to be free from the shackles of old customs. After a musical journey of his own, he realizes where his music belongs. Moti Kahn, a 12-year-old Indian boy, is talented in singing. He loves singing the Manganiyar songs, a big part of which has been the long-time tradition of artist-hereditary patron relationship. But Moti finds singing for their patrons humiliating as they are still treated lowly, and he aspires to earn respect from the world through music. He sets on a journey to the bigger world – will he be able to keep the spirit of Manganiyars?

Director Biography

Pushpendra Singh studied at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune - where he is now a visiting faculty member - and at the 2011 Berlin Talent Campus. He played a lead role in “The Man’s Woman and Other Stories” (2009) - a Special Mention in the Orizzonti section at Venice FF. He also acted in Maximilian Linz’s German feature “Ich will mich nicht künstlich aufregen” (2014), screened at Berlin FF. His debut feature as a director “Lajwanti” (2014) was premiered at Berlin FF. “Ashwatthama” (2017), his second feature, was premiered at Busan IFF in New Currents section.