Filmmaker-Musician Pranav Bhasin on Taking His New Work ‘Screaming On The Fly’ to SXSW

Earlier this month, filmmaker and music producer-composer Pranav Bhasin went to South By SouthWest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, taking his song and music video for “Screaming on the Fly” as the only Indian entry at the festival’s music video competition.

The music video – which sees Kaashhvi Kalani going through a particularly chaotic couple of days amongst friends and partners – was also premiered at the festival. “It’s been wonderful. All kinds of people on the streets of Austin have been recognizing us and coming over to appreciate the music video. This track has become a strong stepping stone,” Mumbai-based Bhasin says over email about going to SXSW.

The song is the latest from Bhasin, who has been making music since 2019 and additionally worked on music videos by the likes of singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad (“Favorite Peeps“), indie-folk act When Chai Met Toast (“Believe”) and rock band Black Letters (“In My Senses“). The electronic and pop/soul-leaning “Screaming on the Fly,” which features Rohini Maiti on vocals, has been in the works for a year, according to Bhasin. He adds about the song and significance of the video, “People consume excessively off late in hopes of filling a void. This is a satire on buying more and feeling less. After writing, composing and producing the song, I decided to shoot the visuals for it myself.”

When it comes to having the creatively-demanding worlds of music and visuals balanced, Bhasin is newer to writing and producing music than filmmaking, so he doesn’t necessarily imagine visuals for any of the music he makes. “I’m a storyteller and filmmaking, and I think I decided to let myself spend as much time with music as I’d like for a few months, and words and melodies started appearing to me. I chase a feeling and a mood,” Bhasin adds.

Up next, there’s a movie coming and a single called “Dude Subdued” that’s ready for release. “An EP that may follow after. The sound is getting more acoustic. My life is going to be a long and joyous ride with art and entertainment,” he says.

Watch the video for “Screaming on the Fly” below. Stream the song here.