Los Angeles/Navsari (Gujarat/CA) [India/USA] February 8: From his beginnings in Navsari, Gujarat, to his current position as a cinematographer in Los Angeles, Darsh Desai has had a significant impact on the global film business. Darsh has a background in street and fashion photography, and his passion for cinematography has propelled him toward the field his whole life.
Darsh was born and reared in a tiny village, but his mother’s early introduction to movies set the groundwork for what would eventually become his career. His experimental phase in photography helped him make a gradual move to filmmaking. But as time passed, Darsh developed a fascination with cinematography, which gave him a sense of contentment in his creative work and a sense of aliveness.
Darsh draws inspiration from Sudeep Chatterjee and Greg Fraiser, both of whom he admires for their unwavering inventiveness. Nevertheless, Darsh acknowledges his mother’s influence on his artistic career and gets inspiration from her as well.
Darsh is a director and director of photography (DP) on several music videos, having directed and assisted both established and up-and-coming musicians. Among the well-known businesses he has worked with on commercials are Fenty, Nike, Puma, BMW, Adidas, and Tinder. Darsh has worked as a cinematographer on more than 14 motion pictures, some of which have been shown at film festivals.
“Spin The Bottle,” one of Darsh’s most recent endeavors, demonstrates his flexibility. The picture, which was shot in three distinct film formats—8mm, 16mm Black & White, and Digital—is presently under post-production with a 2025 release date planned.
In his reflections, Darsh highlights how his move to Los Angeles had a profoundly transforming effect on him. His attention on cinematography was sharpened by this change of setting, which also introduced him to a multitude of industry mentors and experiences. Darsh has expressed thanks for the kindness and tolerance of people he has met during this beneficial shift.
Darsh’s co-founding of HRVST, a production business, has given him invaluable knowledge of the complex workings of the film industry. He acknowledges the importance of marketing and post-production, pointing out that the actual production accounts for just 10% of a film’s influence.
Given that audiences are discriminating, Darsh highlights the value of narrative and the ways in which local viewer tastes are changing. Even while he thinks movie theaters will always have importance, he also recognizes that OTT platforms play a part in satisfying the market’s need for a variety of material.
In the upcoming five years, Darsh hopes to make his directing debut in Indian cinema. Even with his aspirations, he is process-oriented and is content with his work as it is at the moment.
In the ever-changing field of cinematography, Darsh Desai’s path serves as a monument to the transformational power of passion, devotion, and an unwavering pursuit of artistic satisfaction.