Ambient Light, the international production company Founded by award-winning Egyptian filmmaker Ali El Arabi has announced that multi-platinum rapper, singer-songwriter and record producer Badshah has been brought on to create the official song for upcoming feature film, ‘52 Blue’ featuring Neha Dhupia, Adil Hussain. This landmark cross-cultural collaboration marks one of the most ambitious intersections of contemporary Indian music and international cinema in recent years.
Known for reshaping India’s musical landscape and commanding billions of global streams, Badshah brings his signature blend of emotional resonance and infectious energy to the film’s auditory centrepiece ‘It’s Your Turn’. The track accompanies the film’s main trailer and serves as the thematic heartbeat for the film’s main protectionist’s odyssey, perfectly channelling the film’s core themes of hope, ambition and success. The mega production serves as a testament to the collaborative spirit of international cinema, blending cinematic languages from the US, Qatar, Egypt and India.
“Ashish’s journey reminded me of the dreams many of us grow up with—big, impossible, sometimes lonely. Composing ‘It’s Your Turn’ was my way of giving voice to that moment when you stop waiting and start moving. I’m grateful to be part of a film that will connect with the audience’s world over. Working with Ali El Arabi and this incredible team reminded me how powerful storytelling becomes when cultures collaborate.” – Badshah
Directed by Ali El Arabi, ‘52 Blue’ follows Ashish (Yadav Shashidhar), a sheltered young man living on a remote island in Kerala, who defies the confines imposed by his father to chase a singular dream: meeting his idol, Lionel Messi, at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. With quiet encouragement from his mother played by Neha Dhupia and inspiration drawn from the memory of his late brother, Ashish steps into the wider world for the first time. Neha Dhupia and Adil Hussain portray Ashish’s parents, grounding the film in emotional authenticity. The project is shot by acclaimed Egyptian cinematographer Mahmoud Basher, whose work infuses the film with atmospheric realism and visual lyricism. Blending fiction with documentary elements, ‘52 Blue’ also offers rare, intimate glimpses behind the scenes of the 2022 World Cup and the lives of the workers whose labour brought it to life.
El Arabi; whose body of work spans the Sundance-premiered Captains of Zaatari (Apple TV, Netflix), the official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 music video, Cannes selections Goodbye Julia, Arze, and Life After Sihem—emphasized the significance of Badshah’s involvement, “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.”
‘52 Blue’ is produced by Ambient Light, headquartered in Cairo and Los Angeles, and executive-produced by Tariq Al-Naama. The project continues Ambient Light’s commitment to elevating culturally resonant narratives across the Middle East, South Asia, Europe and the U.S. Krysanne Katsoolis, Joe Matthews and Katara Studios serve as co-producers.
Ambient Light previously co-produced Goodbye Julia, Sudan’s second-ever Academy Award submission—supported by Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o and continues to expand its slate of globally minded, socially engaged cinema. The official trailer for ‘52 Blue’ featuring Badshah’s ‘It’s Your Turn’ will be released soon. The song is expected to debut as a standalone track shortly thereafter, accompanied by a global promotional rollout.