Twelve-year-old Moti grew up with the musical tradition of his Manganiar caste. He becomes the hero of his Indian village when he gets cast in a musical and goes on a world tour. For the talented singer, it’s part of a journey to find where he belongs.

Weaving in magical Manganiyar folk songs, this hybrid documentary is a poetic portrait of a marginalized community grappling for survival. Told by teenage singer Moti Khan as he navigates life beyond his village, Pearl of the Desert subtly delineates the myriad challenges endured by folk artists.