FILMFARE AWARDS 2003!
Special Report BY Robeel Haq

The glitz and glamour of the Filmfare awards were apparent once again at this year's ceremony, screened exclusively on Sony. Despite so many Bollywood stars turning up late for the function, it was still very well attended by some of the hottest names in the industry.

Unsurprisingly, the big winner of the night was the blockbuster Devdas, which bagged eleven in total including Best Film, Best Director (Sanjay Leela Bhansali), Best Actor (Shah Rukh Khan), Best Actress (Aishwarya Rai) and Best Supporting Actress (Madhuri Dixit).

The trophies were more than enough to keep the team happy after their recent disappointment from being ignored at the Oscars, although Shah Rukh Khan still managed to slip a light-hearted criticism of the Oscars judging panel during one of his speeches. The superstar made a big impression as one of the night's main hosts and his comedy act with fellow host Saif Ali Khan went down very well with the audience, although some of their jokes fell flat.

Nevertheless it was a nice little preview of the chemistry we can expect during their forthcoming film together Kal Ho Na Ho, which comes out later this year. The beautiful Malini Sharma (star of hit film Raaz) was another host, but she was booted off stage during a pre-planned act with Shah Rukh Khan after her segment was finished.

"At the end of the year, when I look back want to evaluate myself on the work I've done, it is the Filmfare Award that means everything to me," Shah Rukh Khan told reporters. "It is the justification for everything I've done that past year. It is the fructification of all my efforts and my toil. And it is the vindication of my belief in my talent, my work and myself. I don't have any set standards for these, but at the end of the year, it is the Filmfare award that is my standard of excellence, and my benchmark of measure of achievement. It has the greatest meaning to me and I would like to take one home every year if I could."

Performances on the night including a sizzling and raunchy number by model Yana Gupta, which certainly succeeded in getting the male audience members cheering with delight. Aishwarya Rai was paid a massive amount of money for her performance, which provided a highlight of the evening.

Shilpa Shetty also made her presence felt with a dance routine to A.R. Rahman's hit song Shakalaka Baby (a mixture of both the Bollywood version as well as the version from the hit London musical Bombay Dreams), although she almost didn't make it on stage on time because of last minute problems with her costume back stage. A homage was paid to 'cross-over' films as well, with a medley of songs from films such as The Guru, Bend It Like Beckham, Monsoon Wedding and Bollywood/Hollywood, which have all made a huge impression throughout the world within the last year.

The increasingly popular star Vivek Oberoi also performed to various songs from his films and did a grand job. The night almost belonged to the star after he bagged two major awards, namely Best Male Debut and Best Supporting Actor for the film Company, as well as collecting some awards from people not present at the event.

In fact quite a few people were not available to pick up their awards. Bollywood newcomer Esha Deol's late timing meant she wasn't around when her name was announced for Best Female Debut. The singer-turned-actor Sonu Nigam bagged the Best Male Playback Singer, but his wife accepted the trophy on his behalf and passed on a message from her husband about his sadness at 'not being accepted' as an actor for Kash Aap Humare Hote.

The likes of Ajay Devgan, Madhuri Dixit, A.R. Rahman and Paresh Rawal were also absent winners. Luckily old timers Rekha and Jeetendra were very much present to pick up their lifetime achievement awards and Rekha made the most of the opportunity by making a whopping sixteen minute acceptance speech, thanking each and every person who has helped her career.

The Filmfare awards, arguably the biggest commercial Bollywood awards system, always gives the audience something to enjoy. This year, once again, was no exception.

LIST OF WINNERS:

Best Actor: Shah Rukh Khan (Devdas)
Best Actress: Aishwarya Rai (Devdas)
Best Film: Devdas
Best Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Devdas)
Best Supporting Actor: Vivek Oberoi (Company)
Best Supporting Actress: Madhuri Dixit (Devdas)
Critic's Award for Best Actress: Manisha Koirala (Company) and Rani Mukherjee (Saathiya)
Critic's Award for Best Actor: Ajay Devgan (Company & The Legend of Bhagat Singh)
Best Music Director: A R Rahman (Saathiya)
Critic's Award for Best Film: The Legend of Bhagat Singh
Best Debut (Male): Vivek Oberoi (Company)
Best Debut (Female): Esha Deol
Best Villain: Ajay Devgan (Deewangee)
Best Actor in a Comic Role: Paresh Rawal (Awaara Pagal Deewana)
Best Lyricist: Gulzar (Saathiya)
R.D. Burman Award: Shreya Ghosal
Best Playback Singer (Male): Sonu Nigam for the title track of 'Saathiya'
Best Playback Singer (Female): Kavita Krishnamoorthy and Shreya Ghosal for 'Dola Re' (Devdas)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Jeetendra
Lifetime Achievement Award: Rekha

WRITTEN BY ROBEEL HAQ