Nitin Chandrakant Desai
Desai in 2012
Born(1965-08-06)6 August 1965
Died2 August 2023(2023-08-02) (aged 57)
Karjat, Maharashtra, India
Alma materSir J.J. Institute of Applied Art
L.S.Raheja School of Arts
Occupation(s)Actor, filmmaker, Art director, production designer
Years active1987–2023
Notable workJodhaa Akbar
Ajintha
Harishchandrachi Factory
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
Lagaan
Devdas
Balgandharva
Websitewww.ndsfilmworld.com

Nitin Chandrakant Desai (6 August 1965 – 2 August 2023) was an Indian art director, production designer, and film and television producer. He was most known for his work in Marathi and Hindi Films, World Cultural Festival 2016 at Delhi and films like, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), Lagaan (2001), Devdas (2002), Jodhaa Akbar (2008) and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015). During his career spanning twenty years, he worked with directors like Ashutosh Gowarikar, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani and Sanjay Leela Bhansali.[1] In 2002, he turned film producer with Chandrakant Productions' Desh Devi, a devotional film on the Devi Mata of Kutch.[2]

Desai won National Film Award for Best Art Direction four times, and Filmfare Best Art Direction Award three times. In 2005, he opened his ND Studios spread over 52 acres (21 ha) at Karjat, Navi Mumbai, near Mumbai, which has since hosted films like Jodhaa Akbar, Traffic Signal as also Color's reality show Big Boss.[3][4]

Early life and education

Desai was born in Mulund, Bombay, Maharashtra on 9 August 1965.[5] He attended school at Wamanrao Muranjan High School, Mulund in a Marathi Medium. He studied photography at the J.J. School of Art and L.S.Raheja school of arts, in Mumbai, before joining the films.[6][7]

Career

Desai first went to Mumbai's Film City Studios in May 1987, and immediately switched from the 2-D format of still photography to a 3-D world of art direction. He joined noted art director, Nitish Roy as a fourth assistant for the period TV serial, Tamas (1987), directed by Govind Nihalani. Thereafter he worked TV series, Kabir for five-and-a-half years, series Chanakya for the first 25 episodes, and took over independently from the 26th episode onwards.

His first feature film was Adhikari Brothers's Bhookamp in 1993, but it was Vidhu Vinod Chopra's period film, 1942: A Love Story in 1994 that got him noticed.[6] Over the years he has worked in films such as Parinda, Khamoshi, Maachis, Baadshah, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Raju Chacha, international projects like Salaam Bombay!, Amok (a French film directed by Joel Farges, which won Desai a Pri Genie nomination), Jungle Book, Kama Sutra, the Canadian film Such a Long Journey and Holy Smoke. He also created two sets for Slumdog Millionaire 2008 film, which include the set of Kaun Banega Crorepati scene, incidentally he had also designed the set for the Star Plus TV series, and an interiors set of the Taj Mahal.[8][9]

He turned film producer in 2003, with devotional film, Desh Devi Maa Ashapura.[6] Situated on the outskirts of Mumbai at Karjat, the ND studios was opened in 2005 by him. Spread over 52 acres (21 ha), later Reliance Entertainment picked up 50 per cent stake in the studio for about Rs 1.50 billion.[10][11] He turned to producing TV series, with Marathi serial Raja Shivchhatrapati, which became a big hit.[12]

In Marathi, he has produced a biopic movie Balgandharva released in May 2011.[13] He has also produced a reality TV show Marathi Paul Padte Pudhe, which provides a platform for young talent. Concept is similar to America's Got Talent.

Desai was reportedly working on Amol Gupte's Sapno Ko Ginte Ginte. After producing Chittod Ki Rani Padmini Ka Johur (2009) television series, he was reportedly producing historic TV series, Taj Mahal and Baji Rao Mastani.[14]

In 2011, he also debuted as a lead actor by the Marathi film Hello Jai Hind directed by Gajendra Ahire.

Most of Desai's successful work as an art director was in period films, as can be seen by the fact that all four of his National Film Award for Best Art Direction awards have been for period films.

Death

Desai died by suicide in Karjat, Maharashtra , on 2 August 2023. He was 57.[5][15][16][17]

Filmography

As actor

Year Title
1998–2001 Hum Sab Ek Hain
1997 Daud
2011 Hello Jai Hind!
2011 Balgandharva

As director

Year Title
2011 Hello Jai Hind!
2012 Ajintha

As producer

Year Title
2008 Raja Shivchatrapati
2018 Truckbhar Swapna

As art director

Year Title Notes
1989 Parinda
1993 1942: A Love Story
1994 Aa Gale Lag Jaa
1994 Droh Kaal
1995 Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India
1995 Akele Hum Akele Tum
1995 The Don
1995 Vijeta
1995 Khamoshi: The Musical
1996 Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love
1996 Diljale
1996 Maachis
1997 Aar Ya Paar
1997 Ishq
1998 Kareeb
1998 Keemat: They Are Back
1998 Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha
1998 Barood
1998 Wajood
1998 Salaam Bombay!
1998 Dahek: A Burning Passion
1999 Hu Tu Tu
1999 Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
1999 Holy Smoke
1999 Baadshah
2000 Mela
2000 Khauff
2000 Jung
2000 Josh
2000 Mission Kashmir
2000 Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar
2000 Raju Chacha
2001 One 2 Ka 4
2002 Pitaah
2002 Filhaal...
2002 Devdas
2002 The Legend of Bhagat Singh
2002 Annarth
2003 Ek Hindustani
2003 Chupke Se
2003 Taj Mahal: A Monument of Love
2003 Munnabhai M.B.B.S.
2006 The Memsahib
2006 Lage Raho Munna Bhai
2006 Jaane Hoga Kya
2007 Gandhi, My Father
2007 Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal
2008 Y.M.I. Yeh Mera India
2008 God Tussi Great Ho
2008 Dostana
2008 Saas Bahu Aur Sensex
2008 Little Zizou
2009 Chittod Ki Rani Padmini Ka Johur TV series
2009 What's Your Raashee?
2009 Jail
2010 Once Upon a Time in Mumbai
2011 Balgandharva
2019 Panipat [18]

As production designer

Year Title Notes
1997 Tunnu Ki Tina
1998 Such a Long Journey
1999 Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
2001 Lagaan (2001)
2001 Ehsaas (2001)
2002 Pitaah (2002
2002 Mission Kashmir
2002 Devdas
2002 Hum Kisise Kum Nahin
2004 Khakee
2004 Swades
2005 Mangal Pandey: The Rising
2006 The Memsahib
2006 Lage Raho Munna Bhai
2007 Traffic Signal
Gandhi, My Father
Marigold
Eklavya: The Royal Guard
Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal
2008 Jodhaa Akbar
Saas Bahu Aur Sensex
Fashion
2010 Ishqiya
2010 Shanti
2010 Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey
2013 Zapatlela 2
2015 Prem Ratan Dhan Payo
2020 Paurashpur Web series

Awards and nominations

National Film Award for Best Art Direction

Year Film Notes
1999 Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar
2000 Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
2002 Lagaan
2003 Devdas

Filmfare Best Art Direction

Year Film Notes
1995 1942: A Love Story
1997 Khamoshi
2003 Devdas [19]

IFA Best Art Direction Award

Year Film Notes
2009 Jodhaa Akbar

Screen Awards – Best Art Direction

Year Film Notes
1994 1942 A Love Story
1996 Khamoshi: The Musical
1999 Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
2000 Josh [20]
2001 Lagaan'
2008 Gandhi, My Father [21]

Maharashtra State Film Awards – Best Art Direction

Year Film Notes
2009 Harishchandrachi Factory [22]

Genie Award for Best Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design

Film Notes
19th Genie Awards: Such a Long Journey: Nominated

References

  1. Art Director Nitin Desai accredited for his long career International Reporter, MIL/TNN, 19 January 2008.
  2. Mammoth crowd turns up for premiere in Kutch Screen, 22 November 2002.
  3. Nitin Desai on Bollywood, ND Studio and much more CNN IBN, 10 May 2008.
  4. Nitin Desai's Movie Studio: A Tour Business of Cinema, Rohini Bhandari, 9 March 2007.
  5. 1 2 "Art Director Nitin Desai Dies By Suicide At ND Studios In Karjat". Free Press Journal. 2 August 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 The art and craft of Nitin Desai Rediff.com, 18 January 2003.
  7. Nitin Chandrakant DESAI India: Jodhaa Akbar Asian Film Awards.
  8. I often build my dreams through my sets: Nitin Chadrakant Desai Realbollywood, 3 March 2009.
  9. Game, set, movie: Nitin Desai, who created the sets for “Slumdog Millionaire”... The Hindu, 24 January 2009.
  10. "Finally, a Hollywood movie made in India". Mint. 26 April 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  11. Hollywood productions to be filmed at ND studios Agencies Screen, 30 April 2008.
  12. Aesthetic matters: Art director-turned-television producer Nitin Desai.. Deccan Herald.
  13. "Balgandharva | Narayan Shripad Rajhans | Iconic Chandrakant Productions | Nitin Desai | India's Best Art Director | Marathi Film". Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  14. After Rani Padmini Nitin Desai to make Taj Mahal, Baji Rao Mastani Tellychaker, RajDixit 7 August 2009.
  15. NDTV (2 August 2023). "For Art Director Nitin Desai, Tributes From Parineeti Chopra, Riteish Deshmukh And Other Stars". Archived from the original on 2 August 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  16. Raj, Neha (2 August 2023). "Mumbai Film Industry Mourns the Loss of Renowned Art Director Nitin Chandrakant Desai". PUNE NEWS. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  17. "Nitin Chandrakant Desai Dies: Bollywood Production Director Of Oscar-Nominated Film 'Lagaan' Was 57". Deadline. 2 August 2023.
  18. "Coming up, an international film on King Shivaji!". 27 December 2019.
  19. Awards for Nitin Chandrakant Desai at IMDb
  20. 1994–2000 Awards Screen.
  21. Nitin Chandrakant Desai took home his seventh Screen trophy for Best Art Direction this year for Gandhi My Father. Screen, 18 January 2008.
  22. Harishchandrachi Factory is India's Oscar entry The Times of India, Chitra Nair, TNN 21 September 2009. "46th Maharashtra State Film Awards.."
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