Towards the end of 2019, Nitin Zihani Choudhary met director Nag Ashwin. By then, his production design for Tumbbad (2018) had fetched him recognition and accolades. An alumnus of the College of Art, New Delhi, Nitin had worked on Tumbbad for six years.
On learning this, Nag Ashwin remarked jovially that he would likely be tied up with Kalki 2898 AD for the next four years. “I was the first to be on board (in the technical team) since it would take time to develop the designs,” says Nitin in an interview with The Hindu . Nitin was intrigued by the storyline that brought together the Kurukshetra war and futuristic, dystopian science fiction.
“I knew it would offer me a big space to play with the design,” he says about the film starring Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Kamal Haasan , that has garnered more than ₹900 crore worldwide. A BFA (bachelor of fine arts) graduate with a keen interest in painting, illustrations, and sculpture, Nitin also learnt 2D and 3D animation. “My parents were concerned that I was not focusing on one aspect of art.
” When he did storyboards for advertisements and then entered cinema, all his skills could be put to use. In Kalki 2898 AD , he also brainstormed with the 3D and visual effects teams. Nitin designed posters for director Anand Gandhi’s Ship of Theseus, paving the way for Tumbbad.
Atrangi Re followed. “ Atrangi Re gave me a taste of mainstream Hindi cinema and was a lovely experience.” When Nitin began wor.
