Betrayal is one of the cornerstones of filmmaker Torquil Jones’ upcoming documentary about one of the sports world’s most tragic events. And who better to encapsulate this frenetic, invigorating energy and put it into music than Jones’ past collaborator, the Emmy-winning composer Nainita Desai?

Having last worked together on the Primetime Emmy and Grierson-nominated Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, Desai jumps into the driver’s seat of the multi-award-winning director’s latest project, Villeneuve Pironi for Sky TV in the UK.

Villeneuve Pironi tells the story of two supremely gifted Ferrari F1 drivers, forever torn apart by a historic and hugely controversial moment in time. In this epic story, friendship, duplicity, ambition, and honor all collide at racing speeds. Told through compelling interviews by both the Villeneuve and Pironi families, a friendship becomes a rivalry and a rivalry becomes a tragedy in this Shakespearean tale, told – for the very first time – by those who were closest to the men involved.

Cinemacy is excited to premiere the track “The Betrayal – End Credits” from Villeneuve Pironi

A pulsating electronic beat – which could quickly be mistaken for a heartbeat – sets the tone at the onset of the score. As the tension builds, the inclusion of orchestral strings adds another layer of mysticism and passion. This nod to the documentary’s larger themes of unpredictability and intrigue within the score is both subtle and imperative; Nainita has smartly designed her sound with this experimental, deeply immersive approach in mind.

“I wanted to create something almost operatic with ‘The Betrayal’, says Nainita. “It is the emotional culmination of the friendship with a dramatic twist that takes place over the course of a thrilling race. On top of the energy, propulsive earthy percussion floats a strong melody that has gravitas and elegance followed by a counter melody that eventually takes over. It emulates the real-life rivalry between Gilles and Didier and the outcome of the race.”

Nainita continues to expand her reputation as an in-demand composer within the industry. Her previous score for the documentary The Reason I Jump was highly regarded throughout the awards circuit, winning the News and Documentary Emmy in the Outstanding Music Composition category and landing nominations at the British Independent Film Awards and the Cinema Eye Honors. In addition to film scores, she also has a long list of credits in the television and video game space. Her next film, The Deepest Breath, premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival in collaboration with A24, Ventureland, Motive Films, and RAW, and is set to be released later this year.

“Villeneuve Pironi” (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) will be released on digital platforms from Sky Music this Friday, March 17th.