Why I will avoid IIFA Awards 2007 at any cost - Part 4 . . . . . . . .

Well, I know that this is the part you are waiting for. So let's not bore you and go ahead.

(THE FOLLOWING OPINIONS ARE SOLELY PERSONAL AND THEY ARE NOT INTENDED TO HURT/ OFFEND ANYONE)

****SPOILERS MAY BE AHEAD****
Best Picture
Dhoom 2
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kahna
Krrish
Lage Raho Munnabhai
Rang De Basanti
Vivah

D:2 - If you've read my previous posts you'll know my opinions about this film. You'll also know that I'm not at all surprised by its presence in this list. आखिर ब्रांड एम्बेसडर कि बेटे का फिल्म है ना!

KANK - I don't really *love* this film. It's not worthy of featuring in this list. Though it is *not bad* at least for me. For, it's courageous and it doesn't hesitate to say what it wants to. It's only the length that stays with you rather than really good moments. It has the ability to show the reality. It could have been better.

Krrish - Matrix, Spider-Man, Super-man, Super-hype..... just another D:2.

LRMB & RDB - Winners from the word go!

VIVAH- No surprise yet again! It is as regressive as possible. All the characters are saccharine-sweet. There's no HUMAN qualities in the character. Life's nothing else but marriage. The ultimate thing for a woman is to get married. Featuring cow-like women and glamorising all sort of stupid thing, no script, abysmal performances and blah blah blah blah .....that's all this film's about. It was trying to be "culturally" stupid. But sorry! That's not our culture. It's far wider. If you want to see ulture bump into DVDs of LRMB, RDB

The mentality of the jury is clearly shown by the films they choose. Just see how 67% of the nominated films are.

Why couldn't we arrange more money for the jury for the following films?
OMKARA (comes first) TAXI NO. 9211 GANGSTER WOH LAMHE KABUL EXPRESS (if yashraj really pays for D:2, they should have selected this one. Even FANAA was a better proposition than D:2) KHOSLA KA GHOSLA DOR BEING CYRUS


Best Direction
Karan Johar – Kabhi Alvida Naa Kahna
Rakesh Roshan - Krrish
Rajkumar Hirani - Lage Raho Munnabhai
Vishal Bharawaj - Omkara
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra - Rang De Basanti

KANK - Though the film was not very good. There are moments which are very well-directed. Although not worthy of nomination.

Krrish - No words here. See the previous posts.

LRMB & RDB - Again no words (exactly opposite to Krrish)

Omkara - The man behind converging Shakespearean tragedy with UP heartland. One of the most well-executed film in recent times. Not only does the master story-teller tell the story with great skill, he gives example of master craftsmanship (music is credited to him too). Be it the performance or the script, the cinematography or the sets or everything....he leaves a mark of his own everywhere. No disappointment if he wins.

Who deserved.
KUNAL KOHLI - Fanaa (Don't confuse a loopy script with the direction. The film is well-executed. At least far better than Krass) And all the films I suggested for the previous category.





Best Performance in a Leading Role (Female)
Aishwarya Rai - Dhoom 2
Kajol - Fanaa
Kangana Ranaut - Gangster
Rani Mukherji - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kahna
Vidya Balan – Lage Raho Munnabhai

D:2 - Better nominate Rakhi Sawant! Even she could come as close to Sunehri as Ash. Stardust preferred Ash to Kajol, though (same kind of award show, you know!)! She is really Ash (pun intended). In a long time we have seen such a performance, that makes us feel proud about ourselves. We can act better anytime. And yes! without a kiss and a bikini and a makeover!

Fanaa- She was so subtle, subdued in the film that she makes you overlook all the flaws in the screenplay. She looks a million bucks and plays the role with much panache. Why can't we get more of you?

Gangster - Wow! No words to describe her. She closely follows Kajol.

KANK - She definitely played it very well. Not Bad.

LRMB - Not bad!

Who deserved:
KAREENA KAPOOR - Omkara (bringing Desdemona alive) PRIYANKA CHOPRA - Don (to replace that fireless Ash) KANGANA - Woh Lamhe (she should have been nominated for this alog with Gangster) GUL PANAG - Dor AYESHA TAKIA - Dor


Best Performance in a Leading Role (Male)
Shah Rukh Khan - Don
Hrithik Roshan - Krrish
Sanjay Dutt - Lage Raho Munnabhai
Ajay Devgan - Omkara
Aamir Khan - Rang De Basanti

Don - SRK was panned by all after release. But I certainly like it. I am not a big fan of SRK, though. Having seen both the versions and with due respect to the previous one, I am unbiasedly saying that SRK IS THE BETTER DON. Hold your protests, I'd explain that. A character like DON is should be shrewd, good-looking, smart, mischievous, cruelly-smiling, womanizing, soft-spoken, flirtatious. These are things which I found in SRK. I am not decrying the previous version. Well many dumb critics said that there's no balance between Vijay & Don or SRK played Don well but Vijay badly. How could ______ (no spoilers here) play Vijay? You have to remember that not SRK but ___________enacted the role of Vijay. On that context, it's a very good performance.

Krrish - See the supporting section for my comments on his nomination for D:2. The same applies for Krrish. But bet he would win this one like the others. Like Anurag Kashyap (again) I'd like to state that HR should have got the BEST JUMPING AWARD for Krrish.

LRMB - A towering performance from the most underrated actor. He was born to play this. I wish he gets this one. Emotional. He hasn't got it before.

Omkara - Converting the Moor of Venice to an adha-brahmin is no easy task. He did it fantastically.

RDB - Awesome stuff from AK.

Who deserved :

JOHN ABRAHAM - Taxi No. 9211 SHINEY AHUJA - Gangster, Woh Lamhe AAMIR - Fanaa (I liked it) SRK - KANK (that's why we all hated his character. It's to his credit)

Also See: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

So that's all. You may have got a taste of how award functions really are. What are your comments? Let me know.

(NOTE: IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THE AUTHOR PLEASE TELL WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM ATTACKING THE AUTHOR AND DO NOT USE ANY EXPLETIVE)

Why I will avoid IIFA Awards 2007 at any cost - Part 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I am discussing the supporting roles here.
(THE FOLLOWING OPINIONS ARE SOLELY PERSONAL OPINION AND THEY ARE NOT INTENDED TO HURT/OFFEND ANYONE)

****SPOILERS MAY BE AHEAD****

Best Performance in a Comic Role
Chunkey Pandey – Apna Sapna Money Money
Uday Chopra – Dhoom 2
Tusshar Kapoor – Golmaal – Fun Unlimited
Paresh Rawal – Phir Hera Pheri
Sharman Joshi – Rang De Basanti

All nominations are highly biased. I haven't seen ASMM, but I am sure (from reviews) that Ritesh was a better choice. The son of the producer jarred in D:2 (yet again). Another son of a star, was execrable in Golmaal. Paresh Rawal's become so repetitive that his antics don't tickle our bones. Sharman Joshi was not very good, but definitely better than others. Gosh!

deserved nominations:

ARSHAD WARSI - LRMB, Kabul Express, Golmaal Ranvir Shorey - Khosla Ka Ghosla

Best Performance in a Negative Role
Hrithik Roshan – Dhoom 2
Emraan Hashmi – Gangster
Boman Irani - Lage Raho Munnabhai
Saif Ali Khan – Omkara
John Abraham – Zinda

D:2 - If being a sky-diver, bungee-jumper, skater, biker is enough to get a nomination, I can suggest thousands of names for this category. Some may throw brickbats at me, but seriously think. Is HR a true actor? Just a couple of makeovers and action are enough to put put him on the list? Aren't we succumbing to the (pseudo)-super-stardom? He is expressionless. No depth has been observed in the character. You may be mesmerized by his looks (that's what it is) not by his acting skills. This may cause the true cinema to be buried.

Gangster - To be frank, I don't like EH. Rather I possess a strong dislike for him. But when I saw the film I was literally floored by his performance. Unlike his other films, he was nuanced, natural and restrained. I just loved him it!

LRMB - Pretty good villain with perfect comic timing. He deserved a nomination for DON rather than this one.

Omkara - The "most best" villain ever to emerge on the screen of Indian cinema. Sorry for wrong grammar, but I couldn't resist using that particular word. Moving far away from his urban, metrosexual image, Saif played the role with great.......(I don't know how to describe it). He was formidable. He far eclipsed the "most popular" villain Gabbar Singh with a vengeance.

Zinda - Another good one from John.


Best Performance in a Supporting Role (Female)
Bipasha Basu – Dhoom 2
Rekha – Krrish
Konkona Sensharma – Omkara
Kirron Kher – Rang De Basanti
Soha Ali Khan Pataudi – Rang De Basanti

D:2 - Once again! Can you explain me why was Bipasha's character added? If you completely remove her, would that make any difference? Why is there a Sonali? Why is she added? Why is there a pseudo-affair between Jai and Sonali? Why doesn't Sonali come to Brazil? Why is Monali added? Just for the sake of bikini and a dancing companion to producer's son? Bips enacted the role so awfully that I couldn't believe that this is the same girl from Corporate.

Krrish - This is Rekha at her worst. She has no sync. Her makeup, performance and acting are so artificial that you can't help but laugh out aloud.

Omkara - Konkona was very good, flawless but somewhat predictable. So Soha wins it by an inch.

RDB - KK - I didn't really like her in RDB. I thought, she could perform it much better.

Soha- She's the winner for me. She surprised all of us with a perfect performance. She suited the role to a 'T".

Who deserved:

SONALI KULKARNI -Taxi No. - 9211 MASUMEH - Woh Lamhe DIYA MIRZA - L.R. Munnabhai TARA SHARMA - Khosla Ka Ghosla BIPASHA - Omkara (to replace D:2)

Best Performance in a Supporting Role (Male)
Amitabh Bachchan - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kahna
Abhishek Bachchan - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kahna
Arshad Warsi – Lage Raho Munnabhai
Kunal Kapoor - Rang De Basanti
Atul Kulkarni - Rang De Basanti

KANK - Amitabh Bachchan - He was definitely very good in intense moments such as the table sequence. But in the comedy portions he put on a very bad effort. So he's not worth it. Since he is the brand ambassador who could have dared not to include him?
Abhishek " - His role was so amateurly wriiten, that we couldn't relate to hs character. Altough I am not saying that he was not good, I tend to think that he didn't rise above the character that was written. So his performace didn't made us empathise with him.

LRMB - Now that's a bit confusing. Is Arshad's role eligible for suppoting role? Or for the comic one? However he wins it from the word 'go'. He was impeccable in the role of Circuit. No words to describe this performance. Without a doubt, the best comic performance ever! But I suspect if he will win it. Who will give this award to AW when the son of the brand ambassador and ba himself are included?

RDB - Both the nominees rocked. No doubt.

Who deserved:

DEEPAK DOBRIYAL - Omkara [This is bias at its best. No performance in the above list (except AW obviously) came even a mile close to his first performance. He isn't nominated because he doesn't have big names to back him. This kind of a superb performance from a newcomer is completely unexpected. I strongly agree with director Anurag Kashyap who says, "Deepak Dobriyal in omkara was frigging five hundred times better than an Abhishek Bachchan in all his performances put together and wasn’t even nominated."] NANA PATEKAR - Taxi No. 9211 SIDDHARTH - RDB ARSHAD - Kabul Express SALMAN SHAHID - Kabul Express

Also see: Part 1 - Writing Part 2 - Music Part 4 - Main Categories

(NOTE: IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THE AUTHOR PLEASE TELL WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM ATTACKING THE AUTHOR AND DO NOT USE ANY EXPLETIVE)

Why I will avoid IIFA Awards 2007 at any cost - Part 2 . . . . . . . . . . .


In my last post, I discussed regarding the writing department awards. Now I'll discuss music.

(THE FOLLOWING OPINIONS ARE SOLELY PERSONAL OPINION AND THEY ARE NOT INTENDED TO HURT/ OFFEND ANYONE)

Best Lyrics
Sameer – Dhoom 2 – Crazy Kiya Re
Prasoon Joshi – Fanaa – Chand sifarish
Javed Akhtar - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
Gulzar – Omkara – Beedi
Prasoon Joshi – Rang De Basanti - Ru Baroo

Dhoom 2 : Again Dhoom 2? ufff! Gimme a break. The lyrics are stupid, tasteless, foolish, funless, and ..................to infinity

Fanaa and KANK - Both of them definitely deserve without a bias.

Omkara / RDB - Not bad at all. They are good.

Who Deserved too:
ADITYA DHAR, VIJAY KUMAR, SWARTMIKA MISHRA - Banjar - Kabul Express

Best Music Direction
Pritam – Dhoom 2 – Crazy Kiya Re
Shankar Ehsaan Loy – Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna – Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
Rajesh Roshan – Krrish – Dhoop Nikalti hai Jahan Se
Vishal Bharadwaj – Omkara – Beedi
A.R. Rehman – Rang De Basanti – Ru Baroo

D:2 / Krrish - As said earlier, it is "defintely" necessary to include a Blockbuster / Big Banner/ Hhhrrrithiiiikh Rooooosshan film in every category to
raise the required money for holding the event.

KANK/ RDB - Definitely both of them deserve. I'd give a slight edge to RDB for its unique-ness.

Omkara - Again a good album.

Who deserved to be there:
PRITAM - Gangster (Albeit plagiarized, it's damn rockin' and miles better than D2) RAGHAV SACHAR - Kabul Express (definitely surprising, melodious, no-nonsense tunes from a young composer) JATIN - LALIT - Fanaa (last album from the duo, it's awesome) SHANKAR - EHSAAN - LOY - Don (The remakes were not bad. Aaj Ki Raat, Main Hoon Don just rocked)

Best Playback Singer (Female)
Sunidhi Chauhan – Dhoom 2 – Crazy Kiya Re
Alka Yagnik - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
Shreya Ghosal – Lage Raho Munnabhai – Pal Pal
Sunidhi Chauhan – Omkara – Beedi Jalaile
Lata Mangeshkar – Rang De Basanti – Luka Chhupi

D:2 Again: I'm used to it.

No complaints regarding others.


Best Playback Singer (Male)
Shaan – Fanaa – Chand Sifarish
K K – Gangster – Tu Hi Meri shab
Zubeen – Gangster – Ya Ali
Sonu Nigam - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
A. R. Rehman & Naresh Iyer – Rang De Basanti – Ru Baroo

Finally a category without D:2/ Krrish. No complaints.

Also read: Part 1 - Writing Part 3 - Supporting Roles Part 4 - Main Categories

(NOTE: IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THE AUTHOR PLEASE TELL WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM ATTACKING THE AUTHOR AND DO NOT USE ANY EXPLETIVE)

Why I will avoid IIFA Awards 2007 at any cost - Part 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Well, you may ask me why I am shouting regarding the IIFA when it's been quite a while when silly, stupid, biased, idiotic, dumb (not in that order) award functions came and went. IIFA or Indian International Film Academy Awards is an award function held every year outside India. The Bollywood awards functions are sold to the Bollywood mafias, you know and the national awards (no proper noun, I mean capitalization for safety) are sold to 'art-house' directors. Well, don't wanna spark a controversy stating all the names.

The IIFA 2007 (at Yorkshire) is probably a couple of weeks away. But the nomination has already been announced. No, not the awards, the nominations have struck me with awe. अगर नॉमिनेशन ऐसा है तो ना जाने अवार्ड किसको मिलेगी. (If this is the nomination, I don't know to whom will the award go). After looking through the list of nomination, I wager you will be as exasperated as me. I can say only on thing, "The more you bid, the more you get."

We will present each category and dissect 'em. The winner who is chosen by me has been highlighted in bold.

(THE FOLLOWING OPINIONS ARE SOLELY PERSONAL OPINION AND THEY ARE NOT INTENDED TO HURT/ OFFEND ANYONE)

****SPOILERS MAY BE AHEAD****

Best Story
Aditya Chopra – Dhoom 2
Rakesh Roshan – Krrish
Rajkumar Hirani – Lage Raho Munnabhai
Vishal Bharadwaj – Omkara
Kamlesh Pandey – Rang De Basanti

Now the story is considered the fundamental need for a film.

Dhoom:2 - So, what was the story in Dhoom 2? I am still searching. Did they think of a story even before the shooting? The climax is an exact copy of the same writer's Bunty aur Babli.

Krrish: Krisssh, Krrissh, Krrish or Crass? Now which other felicitous word should I use. The story offers nothing new, combining Hollywood superhero cliches with melodramatic Bollywood love story. Senseless, mindless, crappy, silly, outdated, propagating-superstition...............uncountable.

LRMB- Now this is the complete winner in this category. He has penned one of the greatest films ever made (I think so). No other story in recent times has been so thoughtful, masterly-created, engaging and original.

Omkara - Who is this silly, publicity-hungry, running-after-big-names-to-make-a-name man, called ....hmm.....can't remember! Remembered! This man is called William Shakespeare. Have you heard about him before? I haven't. He claims that he has written a tragedy called OTHELLO which Omkara borrows from.

RDB - This nomination too is definitely deserved.

Who other deserved to be there:
MAHESH BHATT - Gangster KABIR KHAN - Kabul Express JAIDEEP SAHNI - Khosla Ka Ghosla MAHESH BHATT - Woh Lamhe (though it's inspired by real-life event) NAGESH KUKUNOOR & T. A. RAZAK - Dor

Best Screenplay
Vijay Krishna Acharya – Dhoom 2
Anurag Basu – Gangster
Rajkumar Hirani, Abhijat Joshi, Vidhu Vinod Chopra – Lage Raho Munnabhai
Vishal Bharadwaj, Robin Bhatt, Abhishek Chaubey – Omkara
Rensil D’Silva & Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra – Rang De Basanti

Well, screenplay is considered the backbone of a film. Do the IIFA jury try to find the backbone or the back-bucks?

Dhoom 2: Hmmmm.... Why not include FAMILY, PYARE MOHAN, DARNA ZAROORI HAI, 36 CJINA TOWN, HUMKO DEEWANA KAR GAYE, PHIR HERA PHERI, KRRISH, UMRAO JAAN, SHIVA, CHUP CHUP KE, VIVAH et al replacing all other films? They easily rank amongst "best scream-play". Dhoom 2 is one of the silliest, loopiest, most logic-less, most mindless screenplay ever written. If "this" tops the best screenplay section. I am seriously worried about the future of screen-writing. I won't be surprised if it wins.

Gangster: This one is a clear winner in this category. It is intelligent, gritty and doesn't take you for granted. It's very dramatised, multi-layered and full of emotion. You can easily relate to the characters. The characters are well-defined. I doesn't let you predict where it's headed with brilliant twists in the screenplay. The best romantic-crime genre from India.

LRMB - Another flawless screenplay of last year. Like Gangster, it too is intelligent, soul-stirring. It's combined humour with heart effortlessly. It's not that kind that tells you to leave your brains at home. It successfully tells many things at a time.

Omkara - Another well-deserved nomination. Rather than just copy-pasting Bard's tale of love, hate, jealousy on the papers, the writers effectively change the characters, setting without changing anything. Re-writing Shakespeare is an arduous task. It's loyal yet so much close to the Indian soil.

RDB - It gradually grows on you. Although it's not exactly a perfect screenplay, I won't be disappointed if it wins. The screenplay is tour de force.

Who other deserved to be there: NAGESH KUKUNOOR - Dor JAIDEEP SAHNI - Khosla Ka Ghosla RAJAT ARORAA - Taxi No. 9211 HOMI ADAJANIA - Being Cyrus KABIR KHAN - Kabul Express

Best Dialogue
Girish Dhamija – Gangster
Sanjay Masoom – Krrish
Rajkumar Hirani, Abhijat Joshi – Lage Raho Munnabhai
Vishal Bharadwaj – Omkara
Prasoon Joshi & Rensil Dsilva – Rang De Basanti

Gangster - Good dialogue. It definitely hits you.

Krrish - Why is that 'crrass' again here. Is there any single dialogue you can memorize from that idiotic film? Is it necessary to include a Blockbuster / Big Banner/ Hhhrrrithiiiikh Rooooosshan film in every category?

LRMB - It's also another example of a perfect dialogue. It's witty, humorous, Bambaiya yet meaningful.

Omkara - Definitely deserves or does it? It retains all the meaning of the original play without just translating them. It's raw and very real. One wishes that the hundreds of expletives weren't there. Then again, it's set in Western UP. Can you bet that they don't use such words?

RDB - Definitely the winner. The words are poetic, soul-stirring yet youthful, energetic. Strong enough to get into your mind.

Who also deserved:
KUNAL KOHLI - Fanaa (Though one may argue that the dialogues and shayaris are cliched and senseless, I liked it. It definitely deserved to replace Krrish) KABIR KHAN - Kabul Express (Very humorous and witty, especially that of Arshad's) FARHAN AKHTAR - Don (It's one simple reason. The lines are directly from the masterful script by Salim - Javed) JAIDEEP SAHNI - Khosla Ka Ghosla

Don't miss: Part 2 - Music Awards Part 3 - Supporting roles Part 4 - Main awards


(NOTE: IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THE AUTHOR PLEASE TELL WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM ATTACKING THE AUTHOR AND DO NOT USE ANY EXPLETIVE)

DDLJ celebrates 600th week in Indian Cinema..

On Friday, 13th April 2007, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, or DDLJ as it is fondly called, is entering its 600th week of continuous play in theatres। The love story of Raj and Simran continues to strike a chord with audiences, as they keep coming back to Maratha Mandir theatre (in Mumbai where DDLJ continues its uninterrupted run) to fall in love once again with one of the most evergreen stories told on the silver screen.

The movie, which cemented the super star status of the Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol pairing, opened to packed houses and rave reviews way back on 20th October 1995. Indians all over the world instantly fell in love with this simple yet eloquent story. It bridged the perceived divide between the NRI and Domestic cultures, and effortlessly wove Indian Tradition and Western Trends into a unique brand of “Indian-ness”, which is often copied, but yet to be rivaled.

Director Aditya Chopra’s directed his first film, DDLJ, at the young age of 23. Released in 1995, DDLJ became one of the largest grossers in Indian film history. While remaining popular with the masses, DDLJ also garnered critical acclaim from all quarters. The film swept that year’s Filmfare Awards, picking up every single award of consequence, and propelled Aditya Chopra as one of the most influential young voices in Indian Cinema.

In 2001, ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ broke the continuous-exhibition record, established by the movie ‘Sholay’ at Minerva Theatre (5 years: 1975 – 1980). DDLJ remains the longest running film in the history of Indian cinema, as it passes one milestone after another, and is presently running in its 12th year.

AWARDS
NATIONAL AWARD:
Best Film – for popular and wholesome entertainment.

FILMFARE AWARDS:
Best Film – Yash Chopra (Producer)
Best Director – Aditya Chopra
Best Actor – Shah Rukh Khan
Best Actress – Kajol
Best Supporting Actress – Farida Jalal
Best Comedian – Anupam Kher
Best Lyricist – Anand Bakshi (Tujhe dekha to ..)
Best Playback Singer (Male) – Udit Narayan (Mehndi Lagake rakhna)
Best Dialogue Writer – Aditya Chopra / Javed Siddiqui
Best Screenplay Writer – Aditya Chopra

SCREEN AWARDS:
Best Film – Yash Chopra (Producer)
Best Director – Aditya Chopra