Rajasthani cinema is set to reach a wider national audience with ‘Dhood’ (SandStorm), billed as the first Rajasthani film to receive a pan-India theatrical release.
Presented by Kalam Academy and Samar Jain, and produced under Soul of Desert Production in association with Ainak Co-Labs, the film aims to take a story rooted in Rajasthan’s culture, landscape and identity to audiences across the country, as per the press release.
Written and directed by Anand Singh Chouhan, ‘Dhood'(SandStorm) blends drama, raw emotions and music with a psychological-thriller narrative. The film explores a distinctive psychological conflict against the cultural and visual backdrop of Rajasthan, seeking to offer a different experience from conventional regional cinema.
Director Anand Singh Chouhan said the story’s roots are deeply connected to Rajasthan while its central emotions are universal.
“‘Dhood’ is a story that was born from the soil of Rajasthan, but its emotions and psychological conflicts are universal. I wanted to create something that feels completely rooted in our culture while taking the audience into a world they may not have experienced before,” Chouhan said in a statement.
“The film is intense, unpredictable and deeply emotional, and bringing it to audiences across India is a very special moment for all of us,” he added.
The film features actors Yashpal Sharma, Alka Amin and Bhawani Singh Chouhan, while Vivek Pareek, Praveen Choudhary and Vanikki Tyagi are being introduced with the project.
Actor Yashpal Sharma said he was drawn to the film because of its distinctive setting and psychological drama.
“Dhood is unlike the kind of stories I have usually been associated with. What attracted me was the world Anand has created and the way the psychological drama is intertwined with the culture and landscape of Rajasthan,” Sharma said.
“There is an honesty and rawness to the film that I believe audiences will connect with, and I am excited that this story is now reaching viewers across India,” he added.
The film’s music and original soundtrack have been composed by Mehul Surti, adding to its emotional and cultural setting.
“Dhood (SandStorm)” is produced by Samar Jain, Narendra Krishania, Mukesh Pareek, D. S. Chouhan and Abhishek Chopra.
The makers said the film seeks to take Rajasthani storytelling beyond its regional boundaries and establish it on the pan-India theatrical stage. With its culturally rooted subject, ensemble cast and psychological-thriller narrative, the film aims to present Rajasthan’s storytelling traditions to audiences across the country, as per the press release.
The project is being positioned as a significant milestone for Rajasthan cinema, bringing a large-scale story from the heart of the desert to viewers nationwide.