Devendra Fadnavis to take oath as CM under ‘Shivaji’s watch’

“Fadnavis will take his oath while paying tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji.A visual of the Vidhan Bhavan and the Raigad Fort will be projected side by side,” said Desai.

Desai, who has worked as an art director and production designer for nearly three decades, is a multiple National Award winner and worked in several prominent Bollywood projects.

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This, however, is not his first political event — he was part of the set design of the 61st birthday of the then Maharashtra CM in 1997.

Desai was in hospital when he was approached by the BJP for the event. “When I was contacted by Ashish Shelar, BJP’s Mumbai city president, I was in hospital after Diwali with an infection and a saline attached. I removed the saline and told the doctor that I couldn’t miss the opportunity to work for a state function,” he said.

He was whisked away o the BJP headquarters in Nariman Point and into a meeting with Shelar. “Later that night, I met Vinod Tawde and Fadnavis. I sketched my first draft on the hospital card. I mailed the sketch to my office, which made a formal presentation,” he said.

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Fadnavis’s brief, Desai said, was to show the transformation of ancient Maharashtra to modern Maharashtra.

“He said he wanted to reach to the people. They should feel he was taking his oath in their midst,” he said.

Desai has incorporated elements from across the state for the venue décor. “We have recreated images of the Ajanta Caves, the Trimurti from Ellora Caves, the Shivaji statue from the Raigad Fort, as well as pillars and columns from several monuments, temples and forts in Maharashtra,” he said.