Nitin Chandrakant Desai
Nitin Chandrakant Desai | |
|---|---|
 Nitin Chandrakant Desai at the premiere of Marathi film 'Ajintha', 2012 | |
| Born | Nitin Chandrakant Desai |
| Alma mater | Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art L.S.Raheja School of Arts |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, filmmaker, Art director, production designer |
| Years active | 1987 – present |
| Notable work | Jodhaa Akbar Ajintha Harishchandrachi Factory Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam Lagaan Devdas Balgandharva |
| Website | www |
Nitin Chandrakant Desai is a noted Indian art director and production designer of Indian cinema turned film and television producer, 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 has 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]
He has 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 movies like Jodha Akbar, Traffic Signal as also Color's reality show Big Boss.[3][4]
Early life and education
Desai's attended his 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.[5][6]
Career
He 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.[5] 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.[7][8]
He turned film producer in 2003, with devotional film, Desh Devi Maa Ashapura.[5] 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.[9][10] He turned to producing TV series, with Marathi serial Raja Shivchhatrapati, which became a big hit.[11]
In Marathi, he has produced a biopic movie Balgandharva released in May 2011.[12] 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.
He was reportedly working on Amol Gupte's Sapno Ko Ginte Ginte. After producing Chittod Ki Rani Padmini Ka Johur (2009) TV series, he was reportedly producing historic TV series, Taj Mahal and Baji Rao Mastani.[13] 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 has been in period films, as can be seen by the fact that all 4 of his National Film Award for Best Art Direction awards have been for period films.
Filmography
As actor
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1998-2001 | Hum Sab Ek Hain |
| 1997 | Daud:Fun on the run! |
| 2011 | Hello Jai Hind! |
| 2011 | Balgandharva |
As director
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Hello Jai Hind! |
| 2012 | Ajintha |
As producer
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Raja Shivchatrapati |
As art director
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
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar | |
| 2000 | Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam | |
| 2002 | Lagaan | |
| 2003 | Devdas |
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 1942: A Love Story | |
| 1997 | Khamoshi | |
| 2003 | Devdas | [15] |
| 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 | [16] |
| 2001 | Lagaan' | |
| 2008 | Gandhi, My Father | [17] |
Maharashtra State Film Awards – Best Art Direction
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Harishchandrachi Factory | [18] |
| Film | Notes |
|---|---|
| 19th Genie Awards: Such a Long Journey: | Nominated |
References
- ^ Art Director Nitin Desai accredited for his long career International Reporter, MIL/TNN, 19 January 2008.
- ^ Mammoth crowd turns up for premiere in Kutch Screen, 22 November 2002.
- ^ Nitin Desai on Bollywood, ND Studio and much more CNN IBN, 10 May 2008.
- ^ Nitin Desai's Movie Studio: A Tour Business of Cinema, Rohini Bhandari, 9 March 2007.
- ^ a b c The art and craft of Nitin Desai Rediff.com, 18 January 2003.
- ^ Nitin Chandrakant DESAI India: Jodhaa Akbar Asian Film Awards.
- ^ I often build my dreams through my sets: Nitin Chadrakant Desai Realbollywood, 3 March 2009.
- ^ Game, set, movie: Nitin Desai, who created the sets for “Slumdog Millionaire”... The Hindu, 24 January 2009.
- ^ "Finally, a Hollywood movie made in India". Mint. 26 April 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ^ Hollywood productions to be filmed at ND studios Agencies Screen, 30 April 2008.
- ^ Aesthetic matters: Art director-turned-television producer Nitin Desai.. Deccan Herald.
- ^ "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.
- ^ After Rani Padmini Nitin Desai to make Taj Mahal, Baji Rao Mastani Tellychaker, RajDixit 7 August 2009.
- ^ "Coming up, an international film on King Shivaji!".
- ^ Awards for Nitin Chandrakant Desai at IMDb
- ^ 1994–2000 Awards Screen.
- ^ Nitin Chandrakant Desai took home his seventh Screen trophy for Best Art Direction this year for Gandhi My Father. Screen, 18 January 2008.
- ^ Harishchandrachi Factory is India's Oscar entry The Times of India, Chitra Nair, TNN 21 September 2009. "46th Maharashtra State Film Awards.."
External links
- Living people
- Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art alumni
- Indian art directors
- Indian production designers
- Film producers from Mumbai
- Indian television producers
- Filmfare Awards winners
- Film directors from Mumbai
- 20th-century Indian designers
- 21st-century Indian designers
- 21st-century Indian film directors
- Hindi-language film directors
- Indian television directors
- Best Production Design National Film Award winners