India, 29th July 2021: There is something boldly refreshing about Prateek Kuhad. With every new release, the critically acclaimed singer-songwriter modestly crafts a unique universe – one that's an admirable blend of pure escapism and stark reality.
The Elektra Records signee unveiled the official music video for the titular track from his Hindi EP 'Shehron Ke Raaz' today on his YouTube channel. Produced by Catnip and directed by award winning filmmaker Reema Sengupta, the rousing music video moves at a narcotic pace, but is as lush and leisurely as the track itself. Interestingly the brand-new drop also marks Kuhad’s sincere attempt of employing dance as the central theme in his music video for the first time ever.
Taking a cue from the beautiful slice-of-life cinema from the eighties, Kuhad wears his incurably romantic heart on his vintage sleeve in this new offering. The music video is a nostalgic depiction of an idealistic love story that most folks today secretly desire. With a distinct retro aesthetic, Kuhad pays a charming ode to old Bombay, as he artistically captures a theme that is central to his four-track recently premiered EP – secret stories of love nestled in the big cities.
The short dance film is set against the milieu of a quaint Irani café with newly-coupled lovers taking center stage of the visual narrative as they embark on a secret date. Cutting fluidly between acts involving majestic jazz-esque choreography to across-the-table telepathic tête-à-têtes, the featuring dancers TeeJ + Tanuj breathe life into the music video’s crisp storyline.
The rise and fall of Kuhad’s tender melodies coupled with his evocative lyrics vividly complement the narratively layered music video that intoxicates the listener with a fleeting sense of fantasy and reminiscence.
Prateek Kuhad who is currently working on new music overseas states, "I'm super excited about the Shehron Ke Raaz music video - been waiting to share it for a while. I worked with Reema on Tum Jab Paas last time around and we’ve known each other for many years. She's a dear friend and a brilliant filmmaker. The music video has a lot of vibes - can’t wait for everyone to see it!"
Throwing light on the vision behind the music video, Reema Sengupta who's widely celebrated for her short film Counterfeit Kunkoo adds, "Prateek and I have been working together for many years, and it was exciting to put together his first dance music video! Shehron Ke Raaz felt so beautifully nostalgic to me, I knew I had to create a visual mood that feels the same. Every city has its stories of hidden love, that play out in fleeting glances, secret dates, and coded gestures. I wanted to explore what that romance would look like if the world wasn’t watching. I wanted to make this feel rooted and real, and have this couple’s little fantasy of romance play out within that reality. Something that feels, at once, old-worldly and contemporary. And hopefully, emotionally - timeless."
Since its premiere on the 9th of July, the 'Shehron Ke Raaz' EP has garnered approximately 10 million cumulative streams worldwide, with the EP reaching #2 spot on the Apple Music India All Genre charts. The track 'Tere Hi Hum' from the EP also is the first Hindi song to be featured on Spotify’s Fresh Folk Playlist and secured a place in the Spotify Top 50 charts and Gaana Indie Top 50 charts. The animated lyric videos by illustrator Anjali Kamat (Anjisdoodles) accompanying every drop, crafted a unique narrative encompassing the emotions behind each of the tracks. The animated live performance short form content for each of the tracks cumulatively garnered close to 5 million impressions.
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36yD8zxb6Ts&t=6s | |