Bollywood Art Director Nitin Chandrakant Desai Honored in Emotional Oscars’ ‘In Memoriam’ Segment

Late Bollywood art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai was fondly remembered during the Oscars’ ‘In Memoriam’ segment, alongside luminaries such as Tina Turner, Matthew Perry, and others. The Oscars 2024 ceremony took place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo Bocelli delivered a heartfelt performance during the segment, singing ‘Time to Say Goodbye’. The Academy shared a video from the event on Instagram, captioning it, “Andrea and Matteo Bocelli performing ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ 30th Anniversary Special Edition during the In Memoriam at the 2024 #Oscars.”

In addition to Nitin Desai, the segment paid tribute to other notable figures from the global entertainment industry, including directors William Friedkin and Norman Jewison, as well as actors John Bailey, Robbie Robertson, Richard Lewis, Lee Sun-Kyun, Carl Weathers, Matthew Perry, Andre Braugher, among many others.

Desai was celebrated for his groundbreaking studio designs and collaborations with renowned filmmakers such as Ashutosh Gowarikar, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. His work on films like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (2000), Lagaan (2002), Devdas (2003), Jodhaa Akbar (2008), and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015) garnered widespread acclaim.

He was the recipient of three Filmfare Awards for Best Art Direction and four National Film Awards for Best Art Direction.

Desai’s passing on August 2, 2023, left a profound void in the film industry, with tributes pouring in from industry stalwarts and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He was found deceased at his studio in Karjat, Maharashtra, marking the end of an illustrious career that left an indelible mark on Indian cinema.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *