Samir Chanda (1957 – 18 August 2011) was an Indian art director and production designer across Indian cinema, including Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam and Tamil, most known for his work in films like Yodha (1992), Dil Se.. (1998), Guru (2007), Omkara (2006), Rang De Basanti (2006), and Raavan (2010).[1][2]
Samir Chanda | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1957 West Bengal, India |
| Died | 18 August 2011 (age 53) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Other names | Sameer Chanda |
| Occupation(s) | art director, production designer |
| Years active | 1983–2011 |
| Spouse | Leela Chanda |
| Children | Sandeepan Chanda |
He also directed a Bengali film, Ek Nadir Galpo (2008) starring Mithun Chakraborty. It was Indian entries for the Asian, African and Latin American Competition segment of the 38th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), in Goa[3] He was awarded the National Film Award for Best Art Direction four times, including Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2005) directed by Shyam Benegal.
Career
editA trained painter from Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata, he moved to Mumbai and started his career as an assistant to noted art director Nitish Roy working in films like, Mandi (1983) by Shyam Benegal, Mrinal Sen. Subsequently, started handling films independently as art director and production designer, with Subhash Ghai's Ram Lakhan (1989). Over the years he worked with directors like Shyam Benegal, Sangeeth Sivan, Vishal Bhardwaj, Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, Gautam Ghosh and Mani Ratnam.[1][4]
For film Delhi-6 directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Chanda recreated inner lanes of Old Delhi at Sambhar town in Rajasthan, as it has similar architecture. Later, for some scenes, historic Jama Masjid was digitally added to the frame as a backdrop.[5]
Wasiq Khan, who later did Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) and Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (2013), started his career as an assistant art director with Chanda in films, Mani Ratnam's Iruvar (1997) and Shyam Benegal's Hari-Bhari (2000), before starting out on his own.[6]
On the later half, he started up his own film production house named as LISAC. The root of this name stands as - LI for Lila, SA for Sami and C as Chanda. One of the eminent Film under it was the Ek Nadir Galpo: Tale of a River.
He died in Mumbai on 18 August 2011, at the age of 53. Reportedly, he suffered a drug reaction to a painkiller he had taken for a toothache earlier that day, and suffered a heart attack. He was rushed a hospital in Malad, Mumbai, where he died within an hour.[1][7]
Personal Life
editSamir Chanda was married to Leela Chanda[8] and had a son Sandeepan Chanda[9] and live a life of a nuclear family. His son follows his path into the film industry. Samir chanda has completed his Education from University of Calcutta and Government College of Art & Craft.
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Ram Lakhan | |
| 1992 | Yodha | Malayalam film |
| 1993 | Rudaali | |
| 1993 | Gandharvam | Malayalam film |
| 1995 | Nirnayam | Malayalam film |
| 1995 | Agar Aisa Ho To | Hindi Serial |
| 1996 | Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin | Hindi film |
| 1997 | Iruvar | Tamil film |
| 1998 | Dil Se.. | |
| 1998 | Daya | Malayalam film Kerala State Film Award for Best Art Director |
| 2001 | Aalavandhan/Abhay | Tamil-Hindi Bilingual film |
| 2001 | Zubeidaa | |
| 2001 | Aks | |
| 2005 | Kisna: The Warrior Poet | |
| 2005 | Mr Ya Miss | |
| 2006 | Krrish | |
| 2006 | Omkara | Filmfare Award for Best Art Direction |
| 2006 | Rang De Basanti | |
| 2006 | Kantatar | Bengali film |
| 2006 | Faltu (Bengali) | |
| 2006 | Galli Galli Sim Sim (TV series) | Hindi adaptation of Sesame Street |
| 2007 | Guru | Filmfare Award for Best Art Direction |
| 2007 | Blood Brothers (short film) | |
| 2008 | Dasavathaaram | Tamil film |
| 2008 | Welcome to Sajjanpur | |
| 2008 | Ghajini | |
| 2009 | Kaalbela | |
| 2009 | Kaminey | |
| 2009 | Delhi-6 | |
| 2009 | Well Done Abba! | |
| 2010 | Raavan | |
| 2010 | Raavanan | Tamil film |
| 2011 | 7 Khoon Maaf | |
| 2015 | Ek Nadir Galpo | Bengali film (Posthumous) |
Awards
edit- National Film Award
- 1992: Best Art Direction for Rukmavati Ki Haveli
- 1993: Best Art Direction for Rudaali
- 2005: Best Art Direction for Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero
- 2009:Best Art Direction for Delhi-6
- Filmfare Award
- 2007: Best Art Direction for Omkara
- 2008: Best Art Direction for Guru
References
edit- ^ a b c "Art director Samir Chanda passes away". NDTV. NDTV. 19 August 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "Remembering Samir Chanda..." The Times of India. 21 August 2011. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012.
- ^ "Indian entries for IFFI". The Hindu. 17 October 2007. Archived from the original on 18 October 2007.
- ^ "Upperstall Profile: Samir Chanda". Upperstall.com.
- ^ Deepanjana Pal (September 2013). "Places Other Than This". The Big Indian Picture. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
- ^ "Wasiq Khan: How to blend in and stand out". Livemint. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- ^ Subhash K Jha (19 August 2011). "Art director Samir Chanda dies at 54S". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012.
- ^ "Samir's last wish was to release his debut directorial, says wife Leela Chanda". The Times of India. 9 August 2015. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ "Shri SAMIR CHANDA". The Times of India. 19 August 2011. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 22 October 2024.