Award-winning commercial and music video director Tarsem made his feature film directorial debut with The Cell, bringing his vast imagination and visual style to a new format. A native of India, and educated at a boarding school in the Himalayas, Tarsem first came to the United States to study business at Harvard. He soon realized he wanted to study film, and left Harvard to attend the Art Center, in Pasadena, California.
Upon graduation from the Art Center he directed Suzanne Vega’s Tired of Sleeping music video. In 1991 he directed REM’s Losing My Religion music video, winner of MTV’s Best Video Award. In that same year he caught the attention of advertising’s finest by garnering two Cannes trophies; one for Wieden & Kennedy’s Anne Klein campaign, and one for Bartle Bogle Hegart’s Levi’s. His most recent Cannes award was for Fallon McElligott’s Miller Lite.
Known for his attention to detail, stunning art direction, and highly developed story-telling abilities, Tarsem has become one of the most highly acclaimed and sought after directors within the advertising community worldwide.
He has directed commercials for companies such as Isuzu, Levi’s, Coca-Cola, Lee Jeans, Polaroid, Smirnoff, Vauxhall, Perrier, Audi, Volkswagen, Lexus, Infiniti, Nike and Microsoft. His commercials have so elevated the artform that they are part of permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art.
