Nitin Chandrakant Desai

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Nitin Chandrakant Desai
Other names Nitin Desai
Occupation Art director, production designer
Years active 1987 - Present

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 films like, Lagaan
(2001), Jodhaa Akbar (2008), Devdas (2002) and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999). 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 Studio" s spread over 52 acres
(210,000 m2) at Karjat, Navi Mumbai, near Mumbai, which has since hosted movies like Jodha
Akbar, Traffic Signal as also Sony's reality show Big Boss.[3][4]

Contents
[hide]

 1 Early life and education

 2 Career
 3 Filmography
o 3.1 As art director
o 3.2 As production designer
 4 Awards
 5 References
 6 External links

[edit] Early life and education

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]

[edit] 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' 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 film like 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, spread over 52 acres
(210,000 m2), later Reliance Entertainment picked up 50 per cent stake in the studio for about Rs
150 crore.[9] He turned to producing TV series, with Marathi serial Raja Shivchhatrapati, which
became a big hit.[10]

Currently he is working on Ashutosh Gowarikar’s “What’s Your Rashee”, Vipul Shah’s “Action
Replay”, Madhur Bhandarkar’s “Jail” and Amol Gupte’s “Sapno Ko Ginte Ginte”, and after
producing Chittod Ki Rani Padmini Ka Johur (2009) TV series, he is now producing historic TV
series, Taj Mahal and Baji Rao Mastani.[11]

[edit] Filmography
[edit] As art director

 Parinda (1989)
 1942: A Love Story (1993)
 Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1994)
 Droh Kaal (1994)
 Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India (1995)
 Akele Hum Akele Tum (1995)
 The Don (1995)
 Vijeta (1996)
 Khamoshi: The Musical (1996)
 Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (1996)
 Diljale (1996)
 Maachis (1996)
 Aar Ya Paar (1997)
 Ishq (1997)
 Kareeb (1998)
  Keemat: They Are Back (1998)
 Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha (1998)
 Barood (1998)
 Wajood (1998)
 Salaam Bombay! (1988)
 Dahek: A Burning Passion (1998)
 Hu Tu Tu (1999)
 Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999)
 Holy Smoke (1999) (Indian crew)
 Baadshah (1999)
 Mela (2000)
 Khauff (2000)
 Jung (2000)
 Josh (2000)
 Mission Kashmir (2000)
 Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar(2000)
 Raju Chacha (2000)
 One 2 Ka 4 (2001)
 Pitaah (2002)
 Filhaal... (2002)
 Devdas (2002)
 The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002)
 Annarth (2002)
 Ek Hindustani (2003)
 Chupke Se (2003)
 Taj Mahal: A Monument of Love (2003)
 Munnabhai M.B.B.S. (2003)
 The Memsahib (2006)
 Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006)
 Jaane Hoga Kya (2006)
 Gandhi, My Father (2007)
 Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal (2007)
 Y.M.I. Yeh Mera India (2008)
 God Tussi Great Ho (2008)
 Dostana (2008)
 Saas Bahu Aur Sensex (2008)
 Colours of Passion (2009)
 Chittod Ki Rani Padmini Ka Johur (2009) (TV series)
 Little Zizou (2009)
 What's Your Raashee? (2009)
 Once Upon a Time in Mumbai (2009) (filming)
 Jail (2009) [12][13][14]

[edit] As production designer

  Tunnu Ki Tina (1997)
 Such a Long Journey (1998)
 Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999)
 Mission Kashmir (2000)
 Lagaan (2001)
 Ehsaas (2001)
 Pitaah (2002)
 Devdas (2002)
 Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin (2002)
 Khakee (2004)
 Swades (2004)
 Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005)
 The Memsahib (2006)
 Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006)
 Traffic Signal (2007)
 Gandhi, My Father (2007)
 Marigold (2007)
 Eklavya: The Royal Guard (2007)
 Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal
 Jodhaa Akbar (2008)
 Saas Bahu Aur Sensex (2008)
 Fashion (2008)
 Ishqiya (2010)
 Shanti (2010) (pre-production)
 Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey (2010)

[edit] Awards
 National Film Award for Best Art Direction
o 2000: Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
o 2002: Lagaan
o 2003: Devdas
o 1999: Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar

 Filmfare Best Art Direction

o 1995: 1942: A Love Story
o 1997: Khamoshi
o 2003: Devdas [15]

 IIFA Best Art Direction Award

o 2009: Jodhaa Akbar

 Screen Awards - Best Art Direction

 o 1994: 1942 A Love Story
o 1996: Khamoshi: The Musical
o 1999: Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
o 2000: Josh [16]
o 2001: Lagaan'
o 2008: Gandhi, My Father [17]

 Maharashtra State Film Awards - Best Art Direction

o 2009: Harishchandrachi Factory [18]

 Genie Award for Best Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design

o 19th Genie Awards: Such a Long Journey: Nominated

[edit]