Production director Nitin Desai, renowned for creating sets of blockbuster films such as Lagaan and Jodha Akbar, was on Sunday posthumously honoured during the 'In Memoriam' segment at the 96th Academy Awards. Desai was among the distinguished film and TV personalities remembered during the moving segment at the Oscars 2024.
At the awards show, which took place at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, a video was played on stage in which Desai was credited by his full name -- Nitin Chandrakant Desai -- while a clip from one of his films played in the background.
Born in 1965, Desai started his journey in the entertainment industry in 1987. After working in several TV shows like Tamas, Kabir and Chanakya, he started working on films.
As an art director, Desai made his debut in films with Parinda in 1989. Later on, he became a part of several big projects like 1942: A Love Story, Akele Hum Akele Tum, Khamoshi: The Musical, Maachis, Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, Salaam Bombay!, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Baadshah, Mission Kashmir, Devdas, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, Munnabhai M.B.B.S, Lage Raho Munna Bhai and Gandhi, My Father.
Some of his other works as a production designer include Lagaan, Swades, Mangal Pandey: The Rising, Traffic Signal, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Jodhaa Akbar and Ishqiya.
Desai also contributed to the success of the renowned TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati.
In a career spanning around three decades, Desai worked closely with several esteemed filmmakers, including Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani, and Ashutosh Gowariker.
He passed away at the age of 57 on August 2, 2023. Desai was found dead at his studio in Karjat near Mumbai.
At the 96th Academy Awards, Italian singer Andrea Bocelli performed his classic 'Con te partiò' during the moving segment. Paul Reubens, Matthew Perry, Andre Braugher, Carl Weathers, and Tina Turner were among the others included in the 'In Memoriam' segment.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
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