Dhvani Desai
Encyclopedia
Dhvani Desai is an international and Indian award-winning animation filmmaker and a poetess. She is best known for her animation film Manpasand - the Perfect Match produced by the Children's Film Society of India (an autonomous body of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
of the Government of India
). Her animation Studio Metamorphosis has produced numerous animations and special effects for advertising films.
At an early age, she started painting and writing poetry. She also acted in children's professional plays, and travelled across Gujarat to perform on stage. She also appeared on TV and Radio as a child artiste.
degree from the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management and Higher Studies
after completing her Bachelor of Science
in Statistics
from Elphinstone College
, Mumbai
. She joined the Government Law College, Mumbai and later gained a post-graduation diploma in Computer Management from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies
.
Desai entered the field of animation in 1991. She worked as a trainee at a computer animation studio, where she learnt 2D animation. After this, she joined Xavier's Institute of Communication in Mumbai for formal training in 3D animation
, before working in two animation studios. Desai then joined the Computer Graphiti (at the time, a pioneer studio in the field of Indian animation), before establishing her own animation studio Metamorphosis in Mumbai.
Desai co-directed a short animation film The Mahatma with her elder brother depicting the principles of Gandhiji, which was produced by the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation
. The film was selected at the Tehran International Animation Festival in 2001 and at the Mumbai International Film Festival
.
Desai directed the 11-minute long Children's Film Society of India-produced Manpasand — The Perfect Match. It was screened three times at the 9th Hamburg Children's Short Film Festival., and won a Bronze World Medal in the Home Video – Children's Programmes category at the 2008 New York Festival's Film and Video Awards. The Panchatantra
-based tale (using the Vaishnavite
Sanjhi art style, a form of stencil
art took over two years to make, with 42 artists working on it.
It was nominated in many international film festivals including festivals in Germany, Canada, China, Greece, Poland, Slovak Republic and Turkey. — it was also nominated in the International Animation Film Festival in Hollywood, as well as being selected for the International Competition of Animated Films for Children and Youth in the Czech republic in 2007 and being shown at Hyderabad's The Golden Elephant during the 15th International Children's Film Festival in November 2007 and as the Inaugural film at the Asian Women's Film Festival in New Delhi in 2008. Desai expressed surprise that the film had not been considered for the Mumbai International Film Festival in 2008.
Desai has also worked on cartoon and animated titles produced by the National Film Development Corporation of India.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is a branch of the Government of India is the apex body for formulation and administration of the rules and regulations and laws relating to information, broadcasting, the press and films in India....
of the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
). Her animation Studio Metamorphosis has produced numerous animations and special effects for advertising films.
Early life
Born in Mumbai,Desai hails from a well respected illustrious family. Her father is Sudhir Desai (a poet) and her mother isTarinibahen Desai (a modern writer in Gujarati). Her elder sister Sanskritirani Desai,is also a Gujarati poetess. and her brother Sanskar a documentary filmmaker.At an early age, she started painting and writing poetry. She also acted in children's professional plays, and travelled across Gujarat to perform on stage. She also appeared on TV and Radio as a child artiste.
Career
Desai gained a Master of Business AdministrationMaster of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
degree from the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management and Higher Studies
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management and Higher Studies
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies is a private university in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. This institute was established in 1981 by the parent body Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal. The university hopes to contribute to strengthening the corporate foundation by imparting training in the...
after completing her Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Statistics
Statistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
from Elphinstone College
Elphinstone College
Elphinstone College is an institution of higher education affiliated to the University of Mumbai. Established in 1856, it is one of the oldest colleges of the University of Mumbai. It was exalted as a prestigious seat of learning during the British Raj and is generally observed for its vibrant alumni...
, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. She joined the Government Law College, Mumbai and later gained a post-graduation diploma in Computer Management from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies
Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies
Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies is the Department of Management Studies of the University of Mumbai and is the third oldest business school in India...
.
Desai entered the field of animation in 1991. She worked as a trainee at a computer animation studio, where she learnt 2D animation. After this, she joined Xavier's Institute of Communication in Mumbai for formal training in 3D animation
Computer animation
Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images....
, before working in two animation studios. Desai then joined the Computer Graphiti (at the time, a pioneer studio in the field of Indian animation), before establishing her own animation studio Metamorphosis in Mumbai.
Desai co-directed a short animation film The Mahatma with her elder brother depicting the principles of Gandhiji, which was produced by the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation
Mahatma Gandhi Foundation
Mahatma Gandhi Foundation is located in Mumbai, Republic of India and is headed by Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of ‘Bapu’ Mahatma Gandhi...
. The film was selected at the Tehran International Animation Festival in 2001 and at the Mumbai International Film Festival
Mumbai International Film Festival
Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films , is a festival organised in the city of Mumbai by the 'Film Division', Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India. It has been organised since 1990, and focuses on documentary, short and animation...
.
Desai directed the 11-minute long Children's Film Society of India-produced Manpasand — The Perfect Match. It was screened three times at the 9th Hamburg Children's Short Film Festival., and won a Bronze World Medal in the Home Video – Children's Programmes category at the 2008 New York Festival's Film and Video Awards. The Panchatantra
Panchatantra
The Panchatantra is an ancient Indian inter-related collection of animal fables in verse and prose, in a frame story format. The original Sanskrit work, which some scholars believe was composed in the 3rd century BCE, is attributed to Vishnu Sharma...
-based tale (using the Vaishnavite
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
Sanjhi art style, a form of stencil
Stencil
A stencil is a thin sheet of material, such as paper, plastic, or metal, with letters or a design cut from it, used to produce the letters or design on an underlying surface by applying pigment through the cut-out holes in the material. The key advantage of a stencil is that it can be reused to...
art took over two years to make, with 42 artists working on it.
It was nominated in many international film festivals including festivals in Germany, Canada, China, Greece, Poland, Slovak Republic and Turkey. — it was also nominated in the International Animation Film Festival in Hollywood, as well as being selected for the International Competition of Animated Films for Children and Youth in the Czech republic in 2007 and being shown at Hyderabad's The Golden Elephant during the 15th International Children's Film Festival in November 2007 and as the Inaugural film at the Asian Women's Film Festival in New Delhi in 2008. Desai expressed surprise that the film had not been considered for the Mumbai International Film Festival in 2008.
Desai has also worked on cartoon and animated titles produced by the National Film Development Corporation of India.
Awards
- Gold Remi Award, 41st World Fest Houston, U.S.A. 2008 (for Manpasand — The Perfect Match)
- Bronze World Medal 2008 New York Film Festival2008 New York Film FestivalThe 46th New York Film Festival ran from September 26 to October 12, 2008. In addition to screening the feature films listed below, which were often preceded by short films, the festival ran a sidebar retrospective of the films of controversial Japanese director Nagisa Oshima...
- Silver Award (Best First Short Fiction of a Director), Indian Documentary Producer's Association, 2007
- Girnar Award, Bruhad Mumbai Gujarati Samaj, 2009
- Rotary Award for Excellence in Animation, Rotary Club, Mumbai, 2008
- Woman's Achiever Award for Excellence in the Field of Animation, Giant's International, Mumbai, 2010
- Diploma Prix Danube, Bratislava, Slovakia
Other achievements
- Invited to be an International Juror at the New York Festivals Television & Film Awards 2011
- Invited to be an International Juror at the New York Festivals Television & Film Awards 2010
- Invited to be an International Juror for the Film and Video category at the New York Festivals Film and Video Awards 2009
- Member of the jury for the Indian Documentary Producers Association awards 2008 in the Animation Category
- Invited to be on the Script Committee in the Children's Film Society of India from 2008-2009.
- Invited to conduct various workshops on animation at the Film and Television Institute of IndiaFilm and Television Institute of IndiaFilm and Television Institute of India , is an autonomous Institute under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India. It is fully aided by Central Government of India. It is situated in the premises of the erstwhile Prabhat Film Company in Pune, India...
, PunePunePune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
. - Ex-Member of the executive committee of IAAFA (Indian Academy of Advertising Film Art)
- Member of the selection committee of the First Digital Children Film Festival in New Delhi (2006)
- Member of the Selection Committee of Children's International Film Festival, Lucknow (2010)
- Member of the jury for the Indian Documentary Producers Association awards 2010 in the Animation/Ad films Category