Prerana Thakurdesai
Prerana Thakurdesai is a New York based director and producer with extensive experience in leading high-impact storytelling across the United States and India. Her work platforms unique, untold and complex South Asian experiences. She has produced and directed films that have reached global audiences, blending journalistic integrity with cinematic storytelling. Her credits include The Last Ecstatic Days (feature documentary) and Where The Light Enters You (short documentary), The Essential Worker among others. She also produced 9/11: The Legacy and co-directed Toofan Aalaya, an Aamir Khan-hosted series focusing on grassroots change in India. Her work lives on PBS, Amazon, Apple TV, The History Channel, Star Plus, NDTV, Times Now, Zee and several other platforms.
Prerana brings deep expertise in large-scale, socially-driven television, having been part of the core team of the internationally acclaimed docu-TV series Satyamev Jayate, hosted by Aamir Khan, which reached over 600 million viewers worldwide. Beyond television, she has led numerous documentary projects for non-profits across India and the U.S., crafting compelling narratives that drive impact. Recognized by the Producers Guild of America and honored as a Documentary New Leader by DOC NYC, Prerana brings her expertise in unscripted formats, large-scale productions, and purpose-driven content.
Journalism
In her previous avatar, Prerana was a print and broadcast journalist who reported from conflict zones, rural heartlands as well as on urban & political issues. She was a news anchor for Times Now and a senior correspondent for NDTV 24x7 - India's premium English news channels. She has also worked at India Today Magazine, Indian Express and Mid-Day newspapers.
Community Building
Prerana's work circles around issues of social justice, identity, women and end-of-life stories. Prerana thrives in diverse spaces that create opportunities to learn and grow collectively. She is passionate about community building. She is the founding member of the Bitchitra Collective: Indian Women/Non-binary Artists in Documentary, and served as the executive director of KALAKARS - a South Asian artist driven collective that aims to strengthen the presence of South Asian Americans in American film and television industries. She has also served as the president of the South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA).
Gallery
Glimpses from behind the scenes
