The film industry unfurls its magic in many ways, but few individuals grasp its essence with as much finesse as Darsh Desai, an accomplished cinematographer hailing from India. With his craft rooted in the rawness of reality and human experiences, Darsh has carved for himself an exceptional niche in this realm of visual storytelling.
Born and raised in India, Darsh’s dreams of filmmaking initially met with familial resistance. Unaffected, he embarked on his creative journey beginning with street photography, a medium that honed his eye for the eclectic and the everyday. This passion for imagery evolved into conceptual fashion photography, oscillating seamlessly onto the grand canvas of music video direction. However, it was the allure of commercials that cemented his profound love for cinema, paving the path for his eventual pursuit of a film career.
Darsh’s cinematic journey bloomed further upon his venture into the Mumbai film industry, where he spent two cauldron-like years soaking in the vibrant dynamism of Bollywood. This invaluable experience cheered his artistic prowess, earning him a scholarship from the Los Angeles Film School—an institution at the heart of Hollywood. In September of 2021, he took the leap, moved across the globe, and by March the following year, he had graduated, ready to scale greater heights.
Today, using Los Angeles as his creative fulcrum, Darsh works as a full-time cinematographer, engaging with projects that mirror his own narrative and promotes conversations about patriarchal societies and dissection of misogyny. A firm believer in authentic storytelling, Darsh’s film repertoire primarily constitutes short films, though he has also lent his vision to feature films.
Specializing in genres like sci-fi and period horror, Darsh demonstrates his versatile prowess in cinematography. However, his recent focal point has been psychological dramas, thrillers, and horror films. He voices his appreciation for narratives that mine the depths of human emotion and complex personalities.
This multifaceted artist isn’t just a cinematographer. His repertoire also extends to production roles and co-founding ‘HRVST,’ a creative production house. Yet, on set, the cinematographer in Darsh prevails, steering the visual element per the director’s vision. Two of his recent works include ‘En El Nombre de El,’ a Spanish film slated for release in the next six months, ‘Clone’, a psychological horror, ‘HER’, a romance drama with key message revolving around mental health and ‘Spin the Bottle’, a horror piece all set to premiere in 2024 – 2025.
In the pipeline, Darsh has a host of projects, including a poignant film tackling the delicate subject of miscarriage and another unraveling the world of boxing, where the protagonist grapples with an abusive relationship with his father. Each project reflects Darsh’s commitment to presenting stories personally resonant and deeply human.
Armed with his deep-seated passion for storytelling and a sharp eye for capturing narratives through his lens, Darsh Desai’s voyage is inspiring. In his words, “It’s a privilege to make art in a world full of war and it has been quite a journey to attain that privilege. Whenever I help bring a story to life and the director has tears in their eyes, it gives me purpose. Those moments are special and delicate. I witness almost all films I craft including this Spanish film I just wrapped called ‘En El Nombre de El’.”
Connect with Darsh on Instagram and LinkedIn to follow his continued cinematic journey. As he weaves visual narratives across genres and topics, Darsh Desai indeed is a testament to the transformative, heartfelt power of film.