Filmfare Awards 2009 – Picks

The Filmfare nominations for 2009 have been announced. With so many awards happening, one doesn’t know which one is really credible. But since Filmfare has been the longest standing, personally I consider them to be more like the Oscars of India (well almost!). Anyways, the list is out and the nominees must now be praying that they can take the black lady home.

My picks for the awards are marked in red (and italicized) below. Am no Nostradamus honey, so don’t hold anything against me!!!

BEST FILM

Dostana
Ghajini
Jodhaa Akbar
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na
Rock On!!

BEST DIRECTOR

A.R. Murugadoss – Ghajini
Abhishek Kapoor – Rock On!!
Aditya Chopra – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
Ashutosh Gowariker – Jodhaa Akbar
Madhur Bhandarkar – Fashion
Neeraj Pandey – A Wednesday!

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Aamir Khan – Ghajini
Abhishek Bachchan – Dostana
Hrithik Roshan – Jodhaa Akbar
Akshay Kumar – Sinng Is Kinng
Shah Rukh Khan – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
Naseeruddin Shah – A Wednesday!

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Aishwarya Rai – Jodhaa Akbar
Anushka Sharma – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
Asin Thottumkal – Ghajini
Kajol – U Me Aur Hum
Priyanka Chopra – Fashion

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (MALE)

Abhishek Bachchan – Sarkaar Raj
Arjun Rampal – Rock On!!
Pratik Babbar – Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na
Sonu Sood – Jodhaa Akbar
Tushaar Kapoor – Golmaal Returns
Vinay Pathak – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (FEMALE)

Bipasha Basu – Bachna Ae Haseeno
Kangana Ranaut – Fashion
Kiron Kher – Dostana
Ratna Pathak Shah – Jaanu Tu… Ya Jaane Na
Sahana Goswami – Rock On!!

BEST PLAYBACK SINGER (MALE)

Farhan Akhtar – Rock On!! – Socha Hai
KK – Bachna Ae Haseeno – Khuda Jaane
KK – Jannat – Zara Si Dil Mein
Rashid Ali – Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na – Kabhi Kabhi Aditi
Sonu Nigham – Jodhaa Akbar – Inn Lamho Ke Daaman Mein
Sukhwinder Singh – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi – Haule Haule

BEST PLAYBACK SINGER (FEMALE)

Alka Yagnik – Yuvvraaj – Tu Muskura
Neha Bhasin – Fashion – Kuch Khaas Hai
Shilpa Rao – Bachna Ae Haseeno – Khuda Jaane
Shreya Ghoshal – Singh is Kinng – Teri Ore
Shruti Pathak – Fashion – Marjaawa
Sunidhi Chuhan – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi – Dance Pe Chance

NOMINEES FOR BEST LYRICS

Abbas Tyrewala – Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na – Kabhi Kabhi Aditi
Gulzar – Yuvvraaj – Tu Meri Dost Hai
Jaideep Sahni – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi – Haule Haule
Javed Akhtar – Jodhaa Akbar – Jashn e Bahara
Javed Akhtar – Rock On!! – Socha Hai
Prasoon Joshi – Ghajini – Guzarish

BEST MUSIC DIRECTOR

A R Rahman – Ghajini
A R Rahman – Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na
A R Rahman – Jodhaa Akbar
Pritam – Race
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy – Rock On!!
Vishal-Shekhar – Dostana

Ghajini Review

Ok, so I am back after a break. And what a break it has been.

 

I attended the premiere of Ghajini, in PVR. Much anticipated, much awaited, movie this. Ok let me give you the bd news first. I didn’t enjoy the movie. I guess after Kismat Konnection, this is the movie where I was waiting and waiting and waiting for the interval. And the same applies for the climax. This is one loooooooong movie. Boring, no. Uninspiring yes!

 

So what wrong with this movie? Well, it still hasn’t got over the Southie hangover. The villain’s reason to exist and reason to believe are both weak. Its just a late eighties/early nineties movies where the villain has some lousy chamchas with him for no apparent reason. And he has no reason to be bad. The plot itself doesn’t convince the viewer on why he kills the heroine. The fights are good, but too long. And too many. The girl, Asin, makes an impressive debut, but cannot be above . Jiah Khan is not convincing at all. (Maybe that’s the reason why Aamir didn’t use her in the marketing). And the music is horrible save for the Guzaarish number. Beheka is wonderfully choreographed. The songs are jerky and spring up in the narrative like a jack in the box.

 

And what’s right with the movie? Aamir Khan, and nothing else. One man can really make justice to any role and that is him. He stands out tall in this violence marathon. His change from a shy tycoon to an amnesic is phenomenal. He makes the unmovable hero, fighting 20 goons believable, with that perfect physique. (A far cry from the old movies, where we had spindly bodied paunchy heroes; jumping over goons like a circus monkey to some funny music!!)

 

But finally, go watch Ghajini. For Aamir. For the intensity and perfection that he brings to the role. And see the wonders he does to this shamble of a film.

 

Hair and Now!

Having being introduced to Aamir Khan’s haircut from Dil Chahta Hai in the early part of this century, I have tried to sport the same hairstyle since then. I was on the better side of 30 then, and thought it looked cool. I have persisted with this look (except for during my wedding) amidst protests from the wife, family and friends and importantly the hair stylist (ok ok, the barber!!). My short crop was seen as spikes, to be indulged in by kids, or college students, and not by working professionals. Though whenever I looked into the mirror, I saw a George Clooney look alike, with some shades of gray around the temples. I don’t know what the fuss was all about… can’t stand another Clooney, heh?

 

Anyways, recession has struck of the hairline kind. Some parts of the greying skull has shown some signs of stagnating growth. This has called for drastic measures. A quick analysis of the problem has been done by Megs, and as a interim solution, flowing locks has been recommended – a trackback to jab we met. Not the Shahid Kapur one silly, to when Megs and I met. But on second thoughts – it may just make me happier – a Jab We Met. Plus it provides some more happy advantages –

• Covers my bald patches
• Gives me a serious look
• I don’t have to show my driving licence for a “A” movie
• With winter setting in, I can now be like a woolly sheep and provide warmth to all
• My body weight shows positive growth

So, while the Shahid look is desirable, there is some danger of having the Shahrukh Khan post Om Shanti Om look, or even the Tere Naam, or he Yuvraaj look of Salman. But this would still be better than the Akshaye Khanna look!!

 

So while, I do this hairzardous job of controlling recession, a chat with Santa is on to get some fancy hair sprays and hair creams. Good looks hair I come!

Deshdrohi

KRK – Kamal Rashid Khan is here with a mission. His acting launch pad Deshdrohi is hitting screens on November 14 competing with Dostana. The publicity for Deshdrohi is no less than it was for Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, which was a launch pad Aamir Khan. In fact, Himesh Reshammiya can take a tip or two here, Karzzzz publicity was nothing compared to this. 

 

Sample this. Kamal Rashid Khan is everywhere. I switch on the TV to watch cricket, I see him. I watch a news channel, I see him. He is definitely on all music channels and all entertainment channels. He is out on the hoardings and I can’t miss him when I am driving. I try and hide in the safety of mall, and I see OOH media screens with KRK! Worse, he follows me to work on the screens in my cafeteria.  I give up. The man is unstoppable!

 

Deshdrohi is a topical film based on the current migrant situation in Mumbai. Serious agenda, but I guess watching the promos make me feel that this is going to turn out to be a laugh riot. His clothes could probably set a new fashion trend, those leather jackets and all… His gun skills are going to be the journals of reference for generations to come. And KRK’s dialogue delivery is icy cold; it can freeze tiger’s blood! We have been fortunate to catch some of his gems on TV. I am sure the action is going to be awe inspiring. The glam quotient is high with Gracy Singh (who started her career with Aamir Khan in Lagaan, followed it up with Sanjay Dutt in Munnabhai MBBS and Ajay Devgan in Gangajal), playing the romantic lead, from what I hear. And not to miss some sizzling item numbers by Kim Sharma and Saif fame Rozza.

 

Issme action hai, drama hai, romaans hai, tragedy hain aur haan, bhaiyyo aur beheno, issme comedy bhi hai (which I am sure is not intentional!!). Aaiye, dekhiye, ek laakhon mein ek samajik sachchaiyo par adharit filum, jo aapko sochne par majboor karegi. What sochna, we don’t know. To each is own like KRK!!!