Artist Spotlight: Film Composer Saarth Desai
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Film composer Saarth Desai shares his Indian roots and unique musical stylings in the upcoming film drama “Unborn,” from writer/producer Rashmi Rustagi (“Family Party”).
“Unborn” tells the story of a pregnant mother of two girls living in a small California town, starring Ayushi Chhabra (“Star Trek: Picard”), Sumeet Dang (“NCIS: Los Angeles”) and directed by Jaswant Dev Shrestha (“The Treason”).
“It is a family drama and it is about a problem that is plaguing the South Asian community around the world, including in America,” Desai said. “South Asian mothers of a girl child are likely to have an abortion of a female fetus because of intense cultural pressure to have a boy.”
Using traditional Indian instruments like the sitar and the tabla, a traditional Indian drum, Desai blends their sound with western instruments to give viewers a sense of Indian culture.
With a love for different kinds of music, Desai grew up in Pune, India where he studied the tabla for over 10 years under the tutelage of acclaimed musical master Ustaad Kauser Ali Shaikh, of the renowned Benaras Gharana musical family. Later, he moved to the U.S., studied the piano and drums and earn a bachelor’s degree in music from Berklee College of Music in Boston and dedicated himself to composing music for Hollywood films – a decision he does not regret.
“I’ve met a lot of amazing and talented people who are very dedicated to creating unique stories and characters that connect with viewers through great characterizations, visuals and music.
Having worked on a number of films such as the “This Beautiful Journey,” “What Do I Do?” “Chance,” “Zaalima,” “Meherbani,” and “Brass” now underway and others in various stages of production, Desai is also staying busy composing music for television ads, web series, music videos and commercials where his eclectic style comes to the fore.
As for the future, he is looking to produce his own films and record an album of some of his original compositions that he has written over the years, ranging from pop, rock, rhythm and blues as well as Indian music.
