Prerana Thakurdesai
Prerana Thakurdesai is a New York based director and producer whose work affirms that all art is political. She tells stories about the unique, untold and complex experiences of women and the South Asian diaspora. She has produced and directed films in the U.S. and India 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 Last Resort (short documentary,) The Essential Worker (micro documentary) 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's films have won the Global Impact Award at the Iris Global Health Film Festival, Excellence in Documentary award at the International South Asian Film Festival Canada, Indian Telly Award among others. She has helped secure grants from the Berkeley Film Foundation, Tasveer Film Fund grant supported by Netflix and more.
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 the co-founder and board of director 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
