2008 Film Award Results

Predictions
I have nearly given up on the Filmfare Awards ever since they awarded the cliched Kaho Na Pyaar Hai and the inexplicable Koi … Mil Gaya (and no, I personally think Hrithik Roshan is a decent actor, so save your breath). But I’m hoping this year - like I do ever year - that there’s still hope for recognition in the industry.
So here are the nominations in each of the bigger categories, and my pick from amongst them. I’ve also included, at the end, my personal favourites from the year in other categories.
Best Film
1. Chak De! India
2. Guru
3. Jab We Met
4. Om Shanti Om
5. Taare Zameen Par

A tough call between Chak De and Taare Zameen Par, but I’ll go with TZP simply because it’s honest, sensitive and more importantly, it handled the subject of dyslexia very well. Taare’s script deserves a lot more recognition that it does, and just for that, I feel TZP is the better choice.

Best Director
1. Aamir Khan (Taare Zameen Par)
2. Anurag Basu (Life … In A Metro)
3. Farah Khan (Om Shanti Om)
4. Imtiaz Ali (Jab We Met)
5. Mani Ratnam (Guru)
6. Shimit Amin (Chak De! India)

Another tough one here. Aamir’s directorial debut was nice, but Chak De - for me - was a better-directed film. For one, it extracted a very good performance from SRK and now-famous support cast. For another, it made the predictable end very worthy and realistic. More importantly, the action sequences on the Hockey field weren’t overly filmi, they were done with subtlety, and it was quite evident that a lot of thought and detail has gone into each and every shot.
I’m tempted to see it given to Imtiaz Ali because Jab We Met was another honest film that we all related to, but to manage the huge support cast and still give each one their share of screen-presence is testimony the director’s struggle. So, Shimit, please. Incidentally, why isn’t Vidhu Vinod Chopra for Eklavya in this list?

Best Actor
1. Abhishek Bachchan (Guru)
2. Akshay Kumar (Namastey London)
3. Darsheel Safary (Taare Zameen Par)
4. Shahrukh Khan (Chak De! India)
5. Shahrukh Khan (Om Shanti Om)
6. Shahid Kapoor (Jab We Met)

Let’s set the record straight please, we’re awarding the best actor and the two top contenders in this list, for me, are Shahrukh Khan and Darsheel Safary. While Darsheel is undoubtedly brilliant, does his role actually demand the kind of multiple expressions and character depth that went into Kabir Khan? In Chak De, when Vidya saves the final goal, the coach has his arms in his pockets and slumps. Overwhelmed. It’s a rather difficult expression to enact and that deserves the award. Besides, you have no idea how pleasing it is to see SRK actually pushed to bring out the best of his acting capabilities. I’m afraid little Darsheel will just have to wait a bit longer.

Best Actress
1. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (Guru)
2. Deepika Padukone (Om Shanti Om)
3. Kareena Kapoor (Jab We Met)
4. Madhuri Dixit (Aaja Nachle)
5. Rani Mukerji (Laaga Chunari Mein Daag)
6. Vidya Balan (Bhool Bhulaiyaa)

People might argue that it pains me to see Kareena Kapoor winning an award, but guys, the dame was awesome. A refreshingly humble performance from an actor who perhaps charges more than she oughts to in the industry, but Kareena Kapoor - amongst the rest of the competition - deserves to walk away with the award shying away Mads because of the way she carried herself in Jab We Met. Most of all, her Geet Dhillon demanded her not to overact, and she didn’t try too hard. So, Kareena, please, my obssesion with Vidya Balan notwithstanding.

Best Supporting Actor
1. Aamir Khan (Taare Zameen Par)
2. Anil Kapoor (Welcome)
3. Irrfan Khan (Life in a … Metro)
4. Mithun Chakraborty (Guru)
5. Shreyas Talpade (Om Shanti Om)

All of 2007 I’ve been rambling about how Muthun Chakraborty’s role in Guru was the best supporting actor’s role of the year. About how he executed it with class. Where he overshadows Abhishek, and how he amuses the audience oh-so-slightly, very heartfelt. But the last week of 2007 arrived, and with it, did Aamir Khan. And he ought to walk away with the award.
Why? It’s Aamir Khan. Enough said.

Best Supporting Actress
1. Konkona Sen Sharma (Life in a … Metro)
2. Konkona Sen Sharma (Laaga Chunari Mein Daag)
3. Rani Mukerji (Saawariya)
4. Shilpa Shukla (Chak De! India)
5. Tisca Chopra (Taare Zameen Par)

Before I go ga-ga over Ko-Ko on this blog, what in Hell’s name is Rani Mukherji doing on this list for - ugh - Saawariya? Well, never mind.
KoKo, of course, for Laaga, because really, she was the only saving grace in Pradeep Sarkar’s disastrous attempt at evoking sympathy for a prostitute.

Best Music
1. A R Rahman (Guru)
2. Monty Sharma (Saawariya)
3. Pritam (Jab We Met)
4. Pritam (Life in a… Metro)
5. Vishal-Shekhar (Om Shanti Om)

Now, I would’ve actually wanted to give this to Pritam for the brilliant Metro album, if only he didn’t plagiarise so much. Which leaves us with Vishal-Shekhar and Rahman. But Chinmayee and Maryam’s Mayya Mayya, Hariharan’s Ai Hairathey and Rahman himself coming up for Tere Bina is enough to bow in awe of the musician par excellence.
For me, though, this category is a big, big let-down. Two of my favourite albums this year: Johhny Gaddar and Taare Zameen Par, are not here. And that’s horribly friminali on your part, Filmfare.
Best Lyrics
1. Gulzar … Tere Bina (Guru)
2. Javed Akhtar … Main Agar Kahoon (Om Shanti Om)
3. Prasoon Joshi … Maa (Taare Zameen Par)
4. Sameer … Jab Se Tere Naina (Saawariya)
5. Vishal Dadlani … Aankhon Mein Teri (Om Shanti Om)

Sigh, Gulzar, obviously. And what do you mean, why? The first verse itself brings absence, a tasteless sense of sorrow. I simply love the way Gulzar loyally sticks to the rain and the taste buds to express the concern at losing the lover.
Best Playback Singer - Male
1. A R Rahman … Tere Bina (Guru)
2. K K … Aankhon Mein Teri (Om Shanti Om)
3. Shaan … Jab Se Tere Naina (Saawariya)
4. Sonu Nigam … Main Agar Kahoon (Om Shanti Om)
5. Sukhwinder Singh … Chak De (Chak De! India)

Just because it’s the most popular song doesn’t mean he wins. But Sukhwinder really turned it on, and when he goes Chak De, Chak De India, urging you without much authority, it creates a sense of eagerness to actually do something. Not the most patriotic song, no, but definitely inspiring. So I would’ve gone with Sukhwinder on this, in all honesty.
And I insist on Sukhwinder even though I’m a sucker for K. K.
Best Playback Singer - Female
1. Alisha Chinai … It’s Rocking (Kay Love Story Hai)
2. Shreya Ghosal … Barso Re (Guru)
3. Shreya Ghosal … Yeh Ishq Hai (Jab We Met)
4. Sunidhi Chauhan … Sajanaji Vari Vari (Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd.)
5. Sunidhi Chauhan … Aaja Nachle (Aaja Nachle)

How does this babe manage to pack so much energy, I will never understand. Anyhow, when she actually goes aisa mera pyaar hai and then packs the punch over and over again with the immediate sajanaji vari vari bits that follow, you’re sold. Give it to her, for crying out loud.
Best Villain - Vivek Oberoi for Shootout at LokhandwalaBest Comedian - Vinay Pathak for Bheja FryBest Newcomer - Male - Neil Nitin Mukesh for Johnny GaddarBest Newcomer - Female - Deepika Padukone for Om Shanti OmBest Cinematography - Khoya Khoya ChandBest Art Direction - SaawariyaBest Scene - Eklavya - I’m torn between the one where VVC puts the audience in the dark, or the one which features a blindfolded Amitabh, the dove and the palatial pool.
Results
Filmfare Best ActorShahrukh Khan (Chak De India)
Filmfare Best ActressKareena Kapoor (Jab We Met)
Filmfare Best FilmTaare Zameen Par
Filmfare Best DirectorAamir Khan (Taare Zameen Par)
Filmfare Critics Award For Best ActorDarsheel Safary (Taare Zameen Par)
Filmfare Critics Award For Best ActressTabu (Cheeni Kum)
Filmfare Critics Award For Best FilmShimit Amin (Chak De India)
Filmfare Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male)Irfan Khan (Life in a Metro)
Filmfare Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female)Konkana Sen Sharma (Life in a Metro)
Filmfare Best LyricsPrasoon Joshi (Maa - Taare Zameen Par)
Filmfare Best Playback Singer (Male)Shaan (Jab Se Tere Naina - Saawariya)
Filmfare Best Playback Singer (Female)Shreya Ghosal (Barso Re - Guru)
Filmfare Best Music DirectorA. R. Rahman (Guru)
Filmfare Best StoryAmol Gupte (Taare Zameen Par)
Filmfare Best ScreenplayAnurag Basu (Life in a Metro)
Filmfare Best DialogueImtiaz Ali (Jab We Met)
Filmfare R. D. Burman AwardMonty Sharma (Saawariya)
Filmfare Lifetime Achievement AwardRishi Kapoor
Filmfare Power AwardsYash Chopra & Aditya Chopra
Filmfare Best Debut (Male)Ranbir Kapoor (Saawariya)
Filmfare Best Debut (Female)Deepika Padukone (Om Shanti Om)
Filmfare Best Special EffectsRed Chillies Entertainment (Om Shanti Om)
Sony Head N Shoulders Fresh Face of the Year AwardDeepika Padukone
Filmfare Best Background ScoreA. R. Rahman (Guru)
Filmfare Best EditingAmitabh Shukla (Chak De India)
Filmfare Best ChoreographySaroj Khan (Barso Re Megha Re - Guru)
Filmfare Best ActionRob Miller (Chak De India)
Filmfare Best Art DirectionSamir Chanda (Guru)
Filmfare Best SoundLeslie Fernandes (Johnny Gaddaar)
Filmfare Best CinematographySudhip Chatterjee
Filmfare Best CostumesSujata Sharma (Gandhi My Father)