View source for Dar Gai

{{short description|Ukrainian filmmaker}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Dar Gai
| image              = Dar Gai.jpg
| alt                =
| caption            =
| birth_name         = Daria Gaikalova
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1989|12|15}}
| birth_place        = [[Kyiv, Ukraine]]
| death_date         = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) -->
| death_place        =
| nationality        =
| other_names        =
| education          = Minor in film, MBA & PhD in Philosophy
| occupation         = [[Film director|Director]], [[Film producer|Producer]]
| years_active       = 2018 - present
| known_for          =
| website            =
}}
'''Dar Gai''' ({{langx|uk|Дар Гай}}) (born, 15 December 1989) is a Ukrainian-Indian director, screenwriter and producer. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/ukrainian-filmmaker-dar-gai-to-make-bollywood-debut/articleshow/66472248.cms|title=Ukrainian filmmaker Dar Gai to make Bollywood debut|website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|access-date=2019-09-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/asia/in-search-of-silence-filmmaker-dar-gai-finds-home-in-india-1202966781/|title='In Search of Silence' Filmmaker Dar Gai Finds Home in India|website=variety.com|access-date=2019-09-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/film-festivals/ukrainian-director-dar-gai-on-making-her-film-about-a-65-year-old-mumbai-chauffeurs-search-for-silence/|title=Ukrainian Director Dar Gai On Making Her Film About A 65-Year-Old Mumbai Chauffeur's Search For Silence|website=filmcompanion.in|access-date=2019-09-08}}</ref> She is best known for her work on the films ''Teen Aur Aadha'' and ''[[Namdev Bhau: In Search of Silence]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/namdev-bhau-search-silence-review-1155738|title='Namdev Bhau: In Search of Silence': Film Review - Mumbai 2018|website=hollywoodreporter.com|access-date=2019-09-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.highonfilms.com/teen-aur-aadha-2018-piff-review-of-stories-untold-and-secrets-unguarded/|title=TEEN AUR AADHA [2018]: 'PIFF' REVIEW — OF STORIES UNTOLD AND SECRETS UNGUARDED|website=highonfilms.com|access-date=2019-09-02}}</ref> She is the founder of [[Jugaad Motion Pictures]], a Mumbai-based media studio engaged in the production of feature films, television series, commercials, and music videos. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-09 |title=India is home, a part of me, says Ukrainian filmmaker Dar Gai with two Bollywood films in kitty |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/indian-film-festival-melbourn-ukrainian-director-dar-gai-takes-us-through-her-film-craft-why-india-home-5889240/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Gai has directed popular music videos for Indian artists like [[Prateek Kuhad]] and [[Ritviz]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaushal |first=Sweta |date=2022-01-29 |title=Gehraiyaan intimacy director Dar Gai on working with Deepika Padukone-Siddhant Chaturvedi: They were ready to experiment |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/gehraiyaan-intimacy-director-dar-gai-on-workshops-with-deepika-padukone-siddhant-chaturvedi-they-were-ready-to-experiment-101643451170916.html |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-01 |title=Gehraiyaan intimacy director Dar Gai: 'MeToo movement made us realise how trust is compromised on sets' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/gehraiyaan-intimacy-director-dar-gai-metoo-movement-deepika-padukone-movie-7750241/ |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref>
==Early life==
Dar was born in [[Kyiv]], [[Ukraine]]. She is the alumni Berlinale Talents. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Studios |first=Purpose |date=2023-04-14 |title=Dar Gai |url=https://www.goodadsmatter.com/post/dar-gai-1 |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Good Ads Matter |language=en}}</ref> Dar holds a [[Bachelor of Fine Arts|BFA]] and [[Master of Fine Arts|MFA]] degrees in Philosophy with a minor in film and theatre from the [[National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy|NaUKMA]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indisches-filmfestival.de/en/crew_cast/dar-gai-2/|title=Dar Gai|website=indisches-filmfestival.de|access-date=2019-09-02}}</ref> Later, she was invited to India to direct theatre plays at the [[Scindia School]], in [[Gwalior]]. She also taught screenwriting and film appreciation in [[Whistling Woods International Institute]], in [[Mumbai]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/indian-film-festival-melbourn-ukrainian-director-dar-gai-takes-us-through-her-film-craft-why-india-home-5889240/|title=India is home, a part of me, says Ukrainian filmmaker Dar Gai with two Bollywood films in kitty|website=indianexpress.com|access-date=2019-09-02}}</ref>
== Career ==
She began her career in India by teaching screenwriting and film appreciation at ‘[[Whistling Woods International]]’, a private film school in Mumbai founded by filmmaker [[Subhash Ghai]]. Dar's debut narrative feature film “Teen Aur Aadha” (Three and a Half) was co-produced and directed by Indian filmmaker [[Anurag Kashyap]]. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Entertainment |first=Quint |date=2018-01-22 |title=Before 'Mukkabaaz', Anurag-Zoya Teamed up for 'Teen Aur Aadha' |url=https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/indian-cinema/teen-aur-aadha-trailer-zoya-hussain-anurag-kashyap |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=TheQuint |language=en}}</ref> The film was featured in 40 International film festivals and won 18 Awards, eventually streaming globally on [[Netflix]]. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-05 |title=Know More About Dar Gai - IFP |url=https://ifp.world/creator/dar-gai/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kader |first=Fathima Abdul |date=2021-06-08 |title=Critically Acclaimed Indie Movie 'Teen Aur Aadha' Should Be Your Next Netflix Watch |url=https://homegrown.co.in/homegrown-voices/critically-acclaimed-indie-movie-teen-aur-aadha-should-be-your-next-netflix-watch |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Homegrown |language=en}}</ref>
In 2018, Dar directed her second film, “[[Namdev Bhau: In Search of Silence]],” which world-premiered at the [[Busan International Film Festival]], followed by a UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival and screenings at MAMI, Dharamshala International Film Festival, and IFFI. The film then had a [[North America|North American]] premiere at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=2018-10-07 |title='In Search of Silence' Filmmaker Dar Gai Finds Home in India |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/asia/in-search-of-silence-filmmaker-dar-gai-finds-home-in-india-1202966781/ |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rosario |first=Kennith |date=2018-10-05 |title=Five Indian films have their world premières at the Busan International Film Festival |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/high-five-in-busan/article25135294.ece |access-date=2024-10-26 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
Dar was also the executive producer for the 2021 Film ‘"''[[Last Film Show]]''", directed by [[Pan Nalin]]. <ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-01-20 |title=Shochiku opens 'Last Film Show' with a bang in Cinemas across Japan- Exclusive! |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/gujarati/movies/news/shochiku-opens-last-film-show-with-a-bang-in-cinemas-across-japan-exclusive/articleshow/97175864.cms |access-date=2024-10-26 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> This film was selected as the Indian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards, marking the first Indian film in 21 years to be shortlisted for the Best International Film category. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Giardina |first=Carolyn |date=2022-12-21 |title=Oscars: Shortlists for 95th Academy Awards Unveiled |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/oscars-shortlists-95th-academy-awards-unveiled-1235285262/ |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
She has directed music videos with international music labels like Spinnin Records, Sony Music, and JioSaavn for Indian artists like Ritviz, and Prateek Kuhad. Liggi & Sage have garnered over 300 million views on YouTube, with "Cold/mess" named "Music Video of the Year” by Rolling Stone. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Homegrown |date=2021-06-08 |title=An Intimate Look Behind The Scenes Of Prateek Kuhad's New 'cold/mess' Video |url=https://homegrown.co.in/homegrown-explore/an-intimate-look-behind-the-scenes-of-prateek-kuhads-cold-mess-video |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=Homegrown |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Britto |first=Anurag Tagat, Riddhi Chakraborty and David |date=2018-12-26 |title=10 Best Indian Music Videos of 2018 |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/10-best-indian-music-videos-2018/ |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=Rolling Stone India |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2021, She directed the music video for ''Kasoor'' by [[Prateek Kuhad]], produced during the [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19]] lockdown. The video featured fan-submitted clips filmed at home, capturing a range of personal expressions and emotions. The music video subsequently garnered over 20 million views on YouTube. <ref>{{Cite news |last=TAGAT |first=ANURAG |date=2020-07-17 |title=Lockdown music videos go mobile |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/lockdown-music-videos-go-mobile/article32113398.ece |access-date=2024-10-29 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
In 2022, Dar Gai was invited to direct two music videos “ Doobey” and, “Bekaboo” from the film, [[Gehraiyaan]] starring [[Deepika Padukone]], [[Ananya Panday|Ananya Pandey]] and, [[Siddhant Chaturvedi]] garnering over 140 million views on YouTube collectively.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-02 |title=Gehraiyaan intimacy director Dar Gai reveals how she got Deepika Padukone-Siddhant Chaturvedi comfortable with each other: 'Everyone was very curious…' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/gehraiyaan-intimacy-director-dar-gai-reveals-how-she-got-deepika-padukone-siddhant-chaturvedi-comfortable-with-each-other-everyone-was-very-curious-7750958/ |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-10 |title=Who is Deepika Padukone's Gehraiyaan intimacy coach Dar Gai? |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/who-is-deepika-padukone-s-gehraiyaan-intimacy-coach-dar-gai-1898151-2022-01-10 |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> After her work in the music videos, she was invited to work as an intimacy director in the film.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-28 |title=Gehraiyaan intimacy director Dar Gai spills the beans on Deepika-Siddhant's bold scenes {{!}} Exclusive |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/gehraiyaan-intimacy-director-dar-gai-spills-the-beans-on-deepika-siddhant-s-bold-scenes-exclusive-1905894-2022-01-28 |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>
In 2024, she directed ''Adidas Teen Ka Dream'', the Cricket World Cup Anthem, released under Jugaad Motion Pictures. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Tagat |first=Anurag |date=2023-10-08 |title=Virat Kohli and Team India Appear in Raftaar and Karan Kanchan's World Cup Song '3 Ka Dream' |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/raftaar-kara-kanchan-3-ka-dream-cricket-world-cup-song-anthem/ |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=Rolling Stone India |language=en-US}}</ref> She also directed [[JioCinema]]'s 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha’, a film for the [[2024 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games Paris 2024]], celebrating the inspiring dedication of our Olympians. <ref>{{Cite web |title=JioCinema's Paris Olympics coverage to have curated India feed, women athletes feed |url=https://www.exchange4media.com/digital-news/jiocinemas-paris-olympics-coverage-to-have-curated-india-feed-women-athletes-feed-135636.html |website=Exhange4Media}}</ref>
She has been named one of the “Top 15 Female Filmmakers of the Last Decade” by ''Taste of Cinema.'' <ref>{{Cite web |last=Srivastav |first=Arnav |date=2019-01-30 |title=The 15 Best Women-Directed Movies of The Last Decade |url=https://www.tasteofcinema.com/2019/the-15-best-women-directed-movies-of-the-last-decade/ |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=Taste of Cinema - Movie Reviews and Classic Movie Lists |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=world |first=STIR |title=Filmmaker Dar Gai reminisces the indestructible magic of Ukraine |url=https://www.stirworld.com/think-opinions-filmmaker-dar-gai-reminisces-the-indestructible-magic-of-ukraine |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=www.stirworld.com |language=English}}</ref>
== Filmography ==
=== Films ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year
! Film
!Role
|-
| 2018
| ''Teen Aur Aadha''
|Director, Writer, Producer
|-
| 2018
| ''[[Namdev Bhau: In Search of Silence]]''
|Director, Writer, Producer
|-
|2021
|Last Film Show
|Executive Producer
|-
| 2022
| ''[[Gehraiyaan]]''
|Intimacy Director
|}
=== Music Videos ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year
!Artist(s)
! Track Title
|-
| 2020
|[[Prateek Kuhad]]
| cold/mess
|-
| 2021
| rowspan="3" |[[Ritviz]]
| Sage
|-
|2021
|Liggi
|-
| 2021
| Raahi
|-
|2021
|[[Prateek Kuhad]]
|Kasoor
|-
|2022
|Lothika, OAFF, Savera, and [[Kausar Munir]]
|⁠Doobey
|-
|2020
|[[Jasleen Royal]]
|Nit Nit
|-
|2019
|[[Kshmr|KSHMR]], [[Lost Stories (DJs)|Lost Stories]] ft. [[Kavita Seth]]
|Bombay Dreams
|-
|2019
|Ape Echoes
|⁠Hold Tight
|}
== Awards ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%"
|-
! style="width:2.5em" | Year
! Award
! Category
! Nominated work
! Result
!Source
|-
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 2018
| LifeArt Festival
| Jury prize
| rowspan="3" | Three And A Half (''Teen Aur Aadha'')
| {{nom}}<!--
| style="text-align:center" |  -->
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=LifeArt Festival (2018) |url=http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0008547/2018/1/ |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=IMDb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=LIFEART FESTIVAL {{!}} 2018 MOVIE SELECTION |url=https://www.lifeartfestival.com/selection2018 |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=LifeArt Festival |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[Odesa International Film Festival]]
| International competition program
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Оголошено Міжнародну конкурсну програму ОМКФ-2018 {{!}} Новини |url=https://oiff.com.ua/festival/news/announcing-the-international-competition-program-of-oiff-2018-.html |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=oiff.com.ua |language=uk}}</ref>
|-
| Santa Cruz International Film Festival
| Best film
| {{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Palmares 2018 |url=https://fecsc.weebly.com/palmares-2018.html |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=FESTIVAL DE CINE DE SANTA CRUZ |language=es-US}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2019
| Ulju Mountain Film Festival
| [[NETPAC]] award
| Namdev Bhau: In Search of Silence
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ulju Mountain Film Festival (2019) |url=http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0028383/2019/1/ |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=IMDb}}</ref>
|}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{IMDb name|9072016|Dar Gai}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gai, Dar}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Ukrainian women film directors]]
[[Category:Ukrainian film directors]]
[[Category:Film people from Kyiv]]
[[Category:National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
{{Ukraine-bio-stub}}