Noted singer-songwriter Badshah has onboarded the upcoming international feature 52 Blue to create and sing its official song. Directed by Egyptian filmmaker Ali El Arabi, the upcoming film stars Neha Dhupia, Adil Hussain and Yadav Shashidhar in the lead.
Titled 'It's Your Turn', the song is expected to bring Badshah's trademark energy to the film. It will be featured in the film’s official trailer and act as the emotional spine of the protagonist’s journey.
52 Blue follows Ashish (Yadav Shashidhar), a young man from a remote island in Kerala, who dares to break free from his sheltered life to pursue one dream: meeting Lionel Messi at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Supported by his mother (Neha Dhupia) and shaped by memories of his late brother, Ashish steps out into the world for the first time. Adil Hussain plays his father. Blending fiction with documentary realism, the film will also offer some rare behind-the-scenes glimpses of the World Cup and the lives of workers who helped bring the globally popular championship to life. According to the makers, the film will have themes of hope, ambition and the courage to dream big.
Sharing his excitement about the collaboration, Badshah said, "Ashish’s journey reminded me of the dreams so many of us grow up with—big, impossible and sometimes lonely. Composing ‘It’s Your Turn’ felt like giving voice to that moment when you stop waiting and start moving. I’m grateful to be part of a film that will resonate with audiences across the world."
Expressing similar emotions, director El Arabi said, "This film lives at the intersection of ambition and humanity, and Badshah understands that space instinctively. His music crosses borders, just as Ashish’s journey crosses cultures. ‘It’s Your Turn’ is not merely a song, it’s the film’s pulse."
El Arabi is known for his work - Captains of Zaatari (2020) documentary, which premiered at the Sundace Film Festival; the official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 music video; Cannes selections Goodbye Julia and Arze, in which he served as the co-producer and executive producer respectively.
52 Blue is shot by acclaimed Egyptian cinematographer Mahmoud Basher. It is backed by Ambient Light with Tariq Al-Naama serving as executive producer. The film is co-produced by Krysanne Katsoolis, Joe Matthews, and Katara Studios.
