filmfare awards- the awards you didnt see!

Like the previous years, this year, too, the Filmfare awards ceremony was a spellbinding spectacular event. The stars descended and it was a night to remember. With the Big and Small B as well as other winners (Rani Mukherjee, Sanjaly Leela Bhansali, Ayesha Kapur etc) getting well deserved awards, the evening was a fiesta of cinema at its best.

However, as the evening got over and everyone went home and as I switched off the TV set (yes, like every year, this year too I didn’t get tickets!) a lot of names and alternate categories came to mind.

“The Stalker of the Night” Award
No Nominations – only one name and one winner – Abhishek Bachchan. He attacked his prey with an innocence that is rare in today’s actors and it seems he loves people with sheer abandon. The warmth he possesses was evident as he pranced out of the dark recesses of the backstage to envelop Amitabh Bachchan in a bear hug for winning the Best Actor Award. On a separate occasion he pounced onto an unsuspecting Gulzar and showered him with kisses. Gulzar, who was in the midst of giving a sound byte, seemed unfazed. The Stalker of the Night award goes to absolutely human - Abhishek Bachchan ( we only wish we could see more of him at his natural best!)

“What the hell was that” Award
Goes, undoubtedly to Akshay Kumar for Garam Masala! While, I must admit, the movie brought a smile in places and Akshay was good in it, he was not a match for Javed Jaafery in Salaam Namaste. The Indian Crocodile Dundee was a major reason for the movie’s success and his “Egjactly” has attained cult status. It was a cakewalk for Jaafery and the black lady should have gone to him. In today’s times, when being funny is something everyone is trying his hands at ( Salman, Anil Kapoor, Akshay, John) Javed had set the benchmark really high for others. But it was not meant to be - Jaaved Bhai – Sorry ( yeah, yeah I know…”Egjactly”)

THE OVERLOOKED SERIES!

“The Most Overlooked Films of the Year” award
And the nominations are:
Sehar ( Arshad Warsi, Pankaj Kapur and Mahima CHoudhury)
Yahaan ( Jimmy Sergill and Minisha Lamba)
Paheli
Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara
Amu
Main Meri Patni aur Who
Matrubhoomi
My Brother Nikhil

I would give the award to “Sehar”. I personally feel that the movie and its actors never go the recognition they deserved for such an effort.

“Most Overlooked Performance of the Year” award
Arshad Warsi for Sehar
Zakir Hussein for Sarkar ( He played Rashid in Sarkar – I don’t think KK, inspite of his brilliant performance, even came close to the cold viciousness in Zakir’s eyes )
Anupam Kher for Maine Gandhi ko Nahin Mara - A powerhouse performance.
Rajpal Yadav in Main Meri Patni aur Who
Minissha Lamba for Yahaan
Tulip Joshi In Matrubhoomi
Juhi Chawla in My Brother Nikhil

And the winner is - Anupam Kher for his simply amazing performance in Jahnu Barua’s Directorial venture. Here is a consummate actor whose repertoire never ceases to amaze the viewers.


“Was this industry Worth it” Award
The award should be given posthumously to actors, actresses or technicians who spent their lives making films for the masses and dies unheard, unsung and in obscurity. The nominations are’
Parveen Babi – one of the most beautiful faces to grace the silver screen.
Nadira - She had a grace that shone through even the most negative character she played. The more modern generation would probably remember her for her poignant role in “Sagar”. Well, at least I hope that someone remembers her and misses her.
Amrish Puri: We miss you Mogambo!
Ismail Merchant: The most famous Indian name in modern International cinema
Sunil Dutt.


“When will we get it” award
For the best reviewer/ film journalist of films in any media. This award should be instituted to recognise the best and worst film reviewer/journalist (One as the best reviewer and one as “Best reviewer in a negative role – yeah! How about that!)
Best reviewer/ film journalist: Someone who helps us understand the nuances of each film and who can judge a film purely on its merit, makes you believe in the magic of films, one who loves the industry as much as we do, one who helps us reach beyond the greasepaint and to the human side of actors. And the winner is Subhas K. Jha. No questions asked – this man has inspired more people to watch sensible movies than one can bother to count! His critique, his knowledge and his love for films is evident in what he writes. Thank you Mr. Jha from an ardent admirer.

Worst reviewer/ film journalist: Undoubtedly Rajeev Masand on NDTV. Till date I couldn’t understand why a sensible man like Prannoy Roy tolerates a second grade upstart like Masand. What exactly are his credentials to judge and criticise movies? His looks, his logic and his presentation are the worst I have seen in all these years. It is always easy to sit in a comfy position and pass judgement on films. But, has Mr. Masand ever made even a Z grade movie? I don’t think he should be allowed to review movies and he should be replaced with someone who knows what filmmaking is all about ( even films made by the inimitable Joginder are better than Masand’s shows).

Anyway, this was my list. However, to be fair and serious – Filmfare awards once again shows the strength and depth of the Indian film industry. Where else can you have Rani Mukherjee, the new age diva, present the life time achievement aware to the ever so powerful performer Shabana Azmi and where else can you have “Checham da” ( Javed’s awesome take off on Anu Malik) share the same stage as Will Smith? Yash Chpora, Karan Johar, Amitabh Bachchan, Vidhu Chopra, Aishwarya Rai and Gulzar on the same stage only goes to show what the Filmfare awards means to the entire Indian film fraternity. And for us, the audience – well, we just look forward to more of it next year and await to see how they are going to top this one!