Samir Chanda

A 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]

• 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

• Samir Chanda at IMDb
• Samir Chanda, Filmography at Bollywood Hungama