Hundreds of Indian stars prepared to dazzle their fans Sunday at the ‘Bollywood Oscars,’ a glitzy awards ceremony expected to attract 600 million television viewers.
The gala event launched by the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) just eight years ago has become one of the film industry’s most-watched events. Celebrations began Friday with the premiere of ‘Sarkar Raj’ featuring newly-wed superstars Abhishek Bachchan and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan, performing with his father Amitabh Bachchan.
The celebrity couple are up for Best Male and Best Female awards for their roles in ‘Guru’ - a rags-to-riches story of an Indian businessman.
Vying for the coveted Best Picture award are ‘Guru,’ ‘Chak De India,’ ‘Jab We Met,’ ‘Om Shanti Om,’ ‘Life in a Metro’ and ‘Partner.’
At least 500 of Bollywood’s biggest names including Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and Govinda - have arrived in Bangkok to promote their unique brand of film-making outside India. But the ceremony at a lavish Bangkok theatre, decorated in traditional Thai style, will highlight films that go beyond India’s traditional song-and-dance fare.
Stars from suspense thriller ‘Mission Istaanbul,’ action movie ‘Acid Factory’ and sci-fi romance ‘Love Story 2050’ will all perform on stage.
Only one special perfomance, by stars of the romantic comedy ‘De Taali,’ showcases a movie that conforms to the traditional Bollywood format.
Even though Bollywood is a novelty in Thailand, security guards still struggled to control huge crowds who turned up in force to see the Bachchans at the ‘Sarkar Raj’ premiere.
The political thriller is exactly the kind of movie IIFA wants the world to see an Indian film with a Hollywood sensibility and international appeal.
Although India is the world’s biggest film-going nation, cinema tickets sell for a pittance and moviemakers need spin-off music revenue to offset production costs.
The Indian film industry was valued at 2.2 billion dollars last year, just a fraction of what Hollywood earns in a year, but organisers say that the Bollywood Oscars will help expand audiences around the globe.
Actresses lose to action heroes: Bollywood’s women are among the world’s most beautiful and poised on the big screen - but traditionally they haven’t been given the best acting roles.
Men take the lead in Indian films, both in the traditional song and dance movies and in newer genres of thriller and action films, but some actresses are now hankering for change. “Commercial films tend to have a predominantly male part and the female part gets sidelined,” well-known Bollywood beauty Dia Mirza told AFP at the showcase of her new thriller, ‘Acid Factory.’
Not everyone seems to agree actress Bipasha Basu reportedly turned down the part because she thought the character lacked substance.Some Indian actresses looking for stronger roles now consider crossing over into Western films.
Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan was the first to become a truly Bollywood and Hollywood star.
The meatier roles did not come straight away her first role was in ‘Mistress of Spices,’ critically panned, in which she played an exotic beauty with mystical powers. But her latest role in ‘The Last Legion’ is a strong action-packed role alongside acclaimed actors Ben Kingsley and Colin Firth.
Bollywood directors such as Apoorva Lakhia are often criticised for failing to create strong female leads. His newest film, the thriller ‘Mission Istaanbul,’ was previewed at the IIFA awards weekend. He is unrepentant over his cast of male heartthrobs.
Many of Bollywood’s women aren’t ready to speak out.
Rai-Bachchan, as Bollywood royalty, can take on gritty roles about power and corruption but others say they don’t want to rock the boat. Shweta Bhardwaj has just landed her first big Bollywood role in ‘Mission Istaanbul’ and is not complaining, instead concentrating on winning the eye of future filmmakers.
