Filmfare Awards 2011- Hits and Misses

I LOVE watching Filmfare Awards. In the era before I had Hub TV from Starhub (which was until last year) I used to watch the award ceremony every year on a Sunday night till 3 am- even though I had office the next day.


Thanks to Hub TV (and my friend Alpna who convinced me to get it) I recorded the Filmfare Award last week and watched it araam se pretty much the whole of today.


I remember watching the awards since I was a child...at that time the whole ceremony was not broadcasted on Doordarshan. It was only after cable TV came into our humble homes and there was more than one channel to watch, were the awards ceremony shown on telly in its full glory.

Flashback 1992- it was my FYBcom (first year bachelor of commerce of the uninformed) exams the next day. But I stayed up to watch the awards till past midnight. It was all worth it! Because Aamir Khan's Jo Jeeta Wahi Sinkandar won the Best Film. It was a disappointment then, as its now, that Aamir did not come for the awards ceremony. I remember jumping up with joy that his film won, even though he lost to Anil Kapoor who won best actor for Beta. SERIOUSLY?!


Another year, another award ceremony...but its still as much fun!


The hits this year...

1) 'Udaan' making a clean sweep taking home the 7 Filmfare Awards including Best Supporting Actor (Male), Best Film (Critics), Best Story, Cinematography, Screenplay, Best Background Music and Best Sound Design Award.

Though it was very sad that best debut male award went to Ranvir Singh for Baand Baja Baarat. The person who deserved it most was Rajat Barmecha who played the abused child in Udaan. Spectacular performance! Guess he should have offered to dance at the function like Ranvir Singh did. Other strong contenders were both the stars from Tere Bin Laden- the movie should have got some awards. It was seriously funny and witty.

Same goes for Best Debut Director which went to Manish Sharma again for Baand Baja Baarat- when it should have gone to Vikramaditya Motwane for Udaan. It was good that Ronit Roy got his due (his best performance till date- ever), and Udaan also won the Best Film in the Critics Award. Which means it would not win the Best Film in the Popular Award category. Except for a few occasions, that is the usual trend


2) Rishi Kapoor winning the best actor for Do Dooni Char again for the Critics Award. Vidya Balan won the Critics Award for Best Actress (or as its now called 'Best Actor- female)- which again meant that she would not win in the Popular Award category. But in any case, this year, it simply had to be Kajol! There could be no other.

3) Seeing Madhuri Dixit! Sigh! She is simply the best. She completed 25 years in the film industry! 25 years of looking gorgeous (even though she had terrible dress sense and no sense of style for most of her career), giving us awesome movies that showed her range of talent (from Hum Aapke Hain Kaun to Prem Pratigya, from Parinda to Mrityudand, from Tezaab to Dil to Pagal hai and the list can go on...) She did item numbers when they were not even called item numbers with the absolute hit being 'Ek, Do, Teen' from Tezaab and 'Hum ko aaj kal hai' from Sailaab. No one and I mean absolutely NO ONE can wear a navari and look as sexy as she did in that dance sequence. And who can forget 'Chane ke khet mein' from Anjaam. Only Madhuri can do that fabulous step (and Saroj Khan of course who choreographed most of Madhuri's best numbers).  It was a delight to watch her on stage with Shahrukh. And even to simply see her gorgeous smile when she sat in the audience

4) IK and RK- too funny! Simply entertaining without being crude. All their acts were hilarious but I loved the SRK and Sallu act the most. Their chemistry is superb. Wish they would do a film together soon! I hate remakes...I strongly believe that one must not mess with history (SRK was not even half the Don that Amitabh Bachchan was), but too see a remake of 'Andaaz apna apna' with Ranbir and Imran would be quiet a treat :) (as long as Farah Khan does not direct it)

5) Sonakshi Sinha's performance was actually the best of the lot. And she does have something to her. Her eyes can definitely do the talking and she has that rustic Indian woman beauty that likes of Deepika and Sonam lack. Both of who were inconspicuous with their absence. Guess after the bitchy bithcy session on Karan's couch and all their flop movies last year-they thought it was best to stay away. Sensible choice ladies.

6) The legandary Gulzar saab's acceptance speech where he said a short verse and so humbly thanked Vishal Bhradwaj for 'keeping my songs young'.

7) Amitabh Bachchan receiving an award for completing 40 years in the industry. Words cant describe what a fabulous actor he is. And what never ceases to amaze me is the humility that man possesses and professes


A small request for both Madhuri and Amitabh- please speak in Hindi for your acceptance speech. Its is Hindi movies you are getting the awards for after all. And PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE work in a film together. (Amitabh and Madhuri have only shared screen space once in 'Makhna' song from Bade Miyan Chote Miyan)

The Misses...

1) Best supporting actress award for Kareena for We are family. I nearly threw up! It was obviously in exchange for her dance performance- which was also so boring and repetitive. Same songs, same steps, same expression....YAWN....The award should have gone to Amrita Puri from Aisha- stupid film, but lovely clothes on Sonam and too cute performance from Amrita who played small town girl in snooty Delhi society who calls Polo "ghodo waali hockey". LOL!
 

2) Priyanka TRYING to do dance like Madhuri. And I can't emphasize TRYING enough. First of all they had crammed too many songs in that one dance sequence. And yes, Mads has the best dancing songs in the history of cinema...but still...and Priyanka could do absolutely no justice to even one of the songs. It was an insipid performance when the numbers were so lovely. Not to mention, you can't do a dhak-dhak when you don't have boobs!

3) Katrina's expressionless face in the audience and random kisses she blew- once when Kareena was dancing- rather fake. Though her outfit was stunning! And she did look like a million bucks

4) Ash's fat face and bored looking expression- the less said the better. She looks like she is 50 years old! L'Oreal anti aging creams not working for you?

Who looked stunning...surprisingly Prachi Desai (good job getting a stylist sweetie) and not surprisingly Malaika Arora Khan.

  

Who looked like she needs to lose weight and find some films- in the process- Preity and Rani



















And then the ones who looked lovely, but predictable

 


















For once K Jo and SRK both deserved their awards. My name is Khan though long...was a very touching and inspiring movie.

Overall a treat as always...and reminds me why I love Hindi films so much....now if only Aamir starting attending the awards...it would be perfect :)

I love luv storys

Ok, not the most original title, but its topical, no? Though why would you want a movie title with one typo (luv) and one grammatical error (should be ‘stories’ like the plural of story and not ‘storys’), I don’t know. But might as well go with it...


Ok, so I do love ‘luv stroys’. They offer hope, smiles and more stuff to dream about. And am a huge fan of dreams and dreaming. As Mahi (of ‘Mahi Way’ fame) so eloquently put it “Mere dimag mein na har samay ek naya sapna chlata hai- movies ki tarah- woh bhi Technicolor mein”. (My mind is forever seeing dreams like movies or something to that effect).

I am also a Hindi Film movie snob (as my regular readers- all 9 of them- would know, I condone the use of the term Bollywood). I prefer good Hindi cinema, and usually turn up my nose on commercial cinema- but I watch it all the same. Becoz fluff and frills thy name is escapism.

So I naturally went and watched “I hate luv storys”- first day 2nd show! And enjoyed it (more on that later*). But it did make me think about why are love stories so popular? Any film industry all over the world, any soap opera, any TV sitcoms- love stories reign supreme. And even “serious meaningful” movies usually have a love story element. Which I guess is a given, as love is the corner stone of all relationships and finding your soul mate, janam janam ka saathi, companion, partner, love of your life is what everyone desires- whether they admit it or not. So the fact that there is a love angle in most movies, books, soaps, sitcoms, music videos, song albums, etc is nothing to be surprised about.

But the obsession with love stories per se (and the multi-million dollar industry of chick lit and chick flicks- and yes I am a huge contributor to that) does make me ponder sometimes.

Most love stories or rom-coms (romantic comedies for the uninformed) have one of the below story lines:

1) Boy meets girl (or girl meets boys- it’s all about equality), first comes dislike, then friendship, then passion, then love. Remember “Dil- Madhuri-Aamir starrer”?  Or the ever famous “Love Story” (original title that one). The movie which launched Kumar Gaurav.

Side-bar: till date my mom laments on why he could not make it big. Which does beget some thought- as he was one the premier ‘chocolate boys’, had a rich influential dad, well connected in the industry, was talented (remember Naam- brilliant!) and not bad looking. Which does make me believe that luck, fate, destiny have way too much play in our lives. OK- this is much more than any space anyone must have devoted to Kumar Gaurav since he disappeared into oblivion in the early 90’s. So I shall stop.

Bottom line- first “I-can’t-stand-to-see-your-face” dislike to “I-will-give-up-my-life-for-you” love.

What I question: all the things you hated about this person when you first met him, would those qualities not resurface? Or you believe that you can change a person (HA!)

2) Childhood sweethearts: Awww must say this is one of my favourite themes. Remember “Hum Kisise Kum Nahin”? And the sweet “kya hua tera vada” song? Which Tariq (am convinced he was born with a guitar around his neck and has had one in every scene of every movie he ever starred in- all 5 of them) and Kaajal Kiran who used to sing the song to each other as kids and it was the song that bought them together too. So sweet! Other childhood sweetheart love stories are Devdas (Devdas and Paro; though that kinda is more of a tragedy), Parineeta (lovely! Only movie besides Dil Chahta Hai where I liked Saif) and many others that I can’t remember now.

What I question: in today’s fast moving world where you are popular as your last Twitter feed, how can one person continue to be the most important one in your life from childhood till you die? It’s awfully sweet and all that, but won’t you get bored?

3) Bad Boy-Good Girl routine: I can relate to this one most of all. It’s the classic good girl believes she can make the bad boy good. Err “No sweetie (and yes I am taking to myself now), it ain’t gonna happen!” Bad boys don’t turn good just coz they met you and you influenced them. But yes, I like the archetypical ‘bad boy with heart of gold’ and yes, only I can pierce the cold exterior to uncover his nice, caring side. Case in point Kunal Kapoor (he is such a cutie, second place in my heart after Aamir) in Aaje Nachle played the proverbial bad boy transformed because of the good girl Konkana who loved him.

What I question: how do you distinguish between the actual bad boy and the bad boy with the heart of gold? Becoz in 9 cases out of 10, chances are you are with the former

4) Best friends turn lovers: There is something intrinsically beautiful about that fact that the love you were looking for all your life is actually right next to you as your best friend- only you never noticed. My favourite example of that is Barney and Laura from Erich Segal’s epic novel “Doctors”. They grew up as neighbours and best friends, went to med school together, consoled each other through numerous break-ups and f$%$-ups, only to find that they were destined to be together. Ceclie Ahern’s (author of PS I love you book) “Where Rainbows End” is also about 2 best friends Rosie and Alex and the story of how they ultimately get together.

What I question: what if it does not work out? You lose a best friend in the process. That’s sad, no?

5) Rich boy-poor girl; poor boy-rich girl: Needs no explanation. Every Hindi movie ever made in 1970’s and 80’s had this story angle in some way, shape or form. And Hollywood is no stranger to it either. Remember Tom Cruise’s Cocktail? (It even includes the never-gets-old scene of girl’s father trying to buy the boy off). Jeez! Or look at “For love or money” with Michael J Fox or the desi-adaptation “Yes Boss” with SRK and Juhi Chawla. The ‘twist’ here was that both the boy and girl were poor but ambitious and they had to choose between love and money. Any guesses what won? Yes! Love triumphs all! I really liked one dialogue SRK says in Yes Boss “Doh nakamiyamb log ek kamiyab zindagi nahin bana saktein”. (2 unsuccessful people cannot make a successful life). Of course he does go back on his words, and chooses love. But there is a lot of truth in what he said. Bitter truth, but truth all the same.

What I question: Well, there are way too many of them. As this is least believable story line for me. Seriously! An heiress marries a taxi driver  and lives happily ever after?! Really!? (Raja Hindustani with Karisma and Aamir- only Aamir movie I can’t tolerate!)

Ok enough of “Idhar udhar ke baatein, vegera vegera” (my fav line from “I hate luv storys)- let’s get to the point- love stories are:

• Predictable

• Follow a standard pattern

• Are quiet far from reality

• Stretch the truth

• Make false promises

• And worse of all, show us what we are missing in our real lives

So why-oh-why do we still torture ourselves with them?

I think the answer is simple: at heart we all want to believe that magic exists. We sometimes find touches of this magic in our real lives (yes it exists and it happens) but our eyes are blinded with the realities of life- work, kids, school, responsibilities, bills, gym, kitchen, the list goes on, that we miss this magic.

Hence we pay 10$ for a movie ticket and 8$ for the pop corn-coke combo for someone to show us their version of this magic. And for those 2 or 3.5 hours (if its Hum aapke hain kaun), we believe again, we cry for our heart-broken heroine, we laugh with her when she is happy, we look admiringly at our hero and wish we could take him home, we ogle at him shirtless (Imran Khan was looking way too hot without his shirt and gawd! that is way too ‘cougarish’ as he is at least a decade younger than I am, if not more. And any case, I will take his maamu over him any day).

I cannot end without a mention from a Yash Chopra film- as he is the ultimate romance magician after all- "Kahin na Kahin, koi na koi, har ek ke liye bana hai". And it is this belief that keeps us coming back for more...each time..everytime.

* Well, this was supposed to be a review for “I hate luv storys”. But I have spoken too much and about way too many things. So in a nutshell, here goes:

Watch “I hate luv storys” if you love love stories and for

a) Sonam’s winning smile (don’t care what anyone ones, she is tons prettier than Deepika Padukone)

b) Imran’s sense of humor and great bod and just coz he is Aamir’s bhanja and can do no wrong in my eyes (also don’t care what anyone ones, he is tons better than Ranbir Kapoor- though Ranbir is not bad too)

c) The songs- 'Bahara' by Rahat fateh Ali Khan- rules my iPod now

d) The awesome saris Sonam wears in the “Sadka” song. Chiffon sari with a bikini top- start of a trend here!

e) The dig at all Karan Johar movies from “Raj-Simran” at the start, all the way to a beautiful song on the Swiss Alps- oops it’s was New Zealand this time (kudos KJ for being able to laugh at yourself. I like!)

f) The chance to see magic happen once again!

So take your friend, drag your husband, or bring your daughter if she is old enough and smile with Sonam and Imram as they fall in luv.

Kismet Connection

The title is to distinguish from the Shahid-Vidya starrer. And I hate the Ekta Kapoor and KJ fixation of force fitting “K” into everything. But hey...I digress...as usual...
The point I am trying to make is Connections and how our Destiny or Kismet makes us come in contact with them.

· Why does it happen that even if you barely know someone, you feel you have known them all your life?

· Why does it happen that your paths cross with people who have had such similar life experiences as you, that it gives you solace knowing you are not alone?

· Why does it happen that you can meet someone after a decade plus, you can start off just where you had left off?

· Why does it happen that at every twist and turn of life there is a person waiting with a surprise for you?

· Why does it then happen that that person does not stay and be a part of your life?

· Why does it happen that people, who have been a part of your life forever, drift apart?

· Why does it happen that things said and done by random strangers can bring tears to your eyes?

· Why does it happen that certain people have the power to make you smile every time?

· Why does it happen that something that is so wrong, feels oh-so right?

· Why does it happen that something that should so obviously be right, feels so wrong?

· Why does it happen that one chance encounter transforms into a lifelong friendship?

· Why do certain people make us feel that there is a connection beyond the obvious?

Sigh...I can only ask the questions and don’t think anyone has any of the answers. So my conclusion is that there is a higher power than all of us. A power I call Krishna and you could call Jesus or Allah or Guru Nanak.

But it’s that mighty power that decides at what step of life, what kind of person we shall need. And He* transplants that person in our lives to give us the push we need, the sympathetic ear we were craving for, the sense of humour we had lost along the way or simply to be there for us to reach out whenever we need or desire to.

What we make out of these connections is up to us. Sometimes we make the wrong connection with the right person or a right connection with a wrong person. Sometimes it’s a cross-connection** and its takes time to figure it out and get out of the entangled web.
But at all times, there is the connection. That’s what makes us human- the ability and power to connect with others around us and influence their lives while they touch ours.

Let’s open our hearts and minds to these connections and embrace them. You never know which one connection might change your life forever!

* Who decided God was a man? With intense fear of my feminist friends, I do think He is. God cannot be a woman. A woman’s heart would never be equipped to see all the pain in the world and still manage to run it.

** Cross connection- a concept that’s probably known in India and to Indians alone. When your phone line “crosses” with someone else’s and you can hear the other party’s private conversations, while trying to hold your own. You never know who and what you might overhear. Life’s little surprises, which since the advancement of technology have probably ceased to exist.