Beautiful, interesting, incredible cinema.

See what’s playing
Pearl of the Desert
Pearl of the Desert
8.6
/10
78 Ratings

PEARL OF THE DESERT

Maru ro moti

Directed by Pushpendra Singh
India, South Korea, 2019
Documentary

Synopsis

Twelve-year-old Moti grew up with the musical tradition of his Manganiar caste. He becomes the hero of his Indian village when he gets cast in a musical and goes on a world tour. For the talented singer, it’s part of a journey to find where he belongs.

Synopsis

Twelve-year-old Moti grew up with the musical tradition of his Manganiar caste. He becomes the hero of his Indian village when he gets cast in a musical and goes on a world tour. For the talented singer, it’s part of a journey to find where he belongs.

Our take

Weaving in magical Manganiyar folk songs, this hybrid documentary is a poetic portrait of a marginalized community grappling for survival. Told by teenage singer Moti Khan as he navigates life beyond his village, Pearl of the Desert subtly delineates the myriad challenges endured by folk artists.