Oscars 2024 Pays Tribute India's Nitin Desai, South Korean Star Lee Sun-kyun; Watch Video

Indian art director Nitin Desai and South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun were among those that Oscars 2024 remembered in their In Memoriam. In the video played on stage of the 96th Academy Awards, Nitin was credited by his full name — Nitin Chandrakant Desai — and a clip from one of his films were played in the background. A photo of him was attached to the clip. In the second half of the video, Parasite actor Lee Sun-kyun’s photo also made an appearance.

Besides Nitin Desai and Lee Sun-kyun, the Oscars this year paid tribute to Friends star Matthew Perry, Harry Belafonte, Pee-wee Herman actor Paul Reubens, Melinda Dillon, Norman Jewison, Piper Laurie, Ryan O’Neal, Julian Sands, Carl Weathers, Treat Williams and Burt Young. Andrea Bocelli and son Matteo Bocelli along with interpretive dancers performed during the “In Memoriam” segment. The performance left everyone in tears. Watch the video below:

About Nitin Desai’s death:

Nitin Desai passed away on August 2. The art director died due to hanging. Nitin made his debut as an art director in 1989 with Parinda. He went on to work on several hit projects. These included 1942: A Love Story (1993), Khamoshi: The Musical (1995), Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha (1998), Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), Mission Kashmir (2000), Raju Chacha (2000), Devdas (2002), Munnabhai M.B.B.S. (2003), Dostana (2008), and Once Upon a Time in Mumbai (2010). His last Hindi projects as an art director were Panipat (2019) and Paurashpur (2020). In Paurashpur, he was credited as production designer.

About Lee Sun-kyun’s death:

South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun died by suicide on December 27. The actor was seen in films such as Oscar-winning film Parasite. His death rocked rocked South Korea. His funeral was an emotional affair with almost everyone from the South Korean film industry attended the ceremony and offered their condolences.

The Oscars 2024 ceremony streamed on Disney+ Hotstar in India.