Screen with the small screen

Giving others a run for their money was superstar Amitabh Bachchan
who was nominated for anchoring the popular game show Kaun Banega Crorepati. After the nominees were announced which included Shekhar Suman, Anupam Kher, Kunal Kohli and Archana Puran Singh, Padmini Kolhapure asked, "Do we have a choice?" Yes, the best anchor award went to Amitabh Bhachchan

The first much-awaited event of the year, Screen Videocon Awards held on January 20, started with a bang. The function illuminated by a mind-blowing set, glittering spotlights, star performances and celebrity guests began with the Marathi film awards. But the segment which is keenly observed and looked forward to by the television fraternity are the awards for excellence in television, this being the only prestigious award in the country. As Rahul Khanna, the host for the colourful evening, pointed out, television is no more an idiot box, but a "magic box which brings glamour and entertainment to your living rooms."
Rightfully then, the television awards preceded the film awards. The enthusiasm amongst the TV stars was visible right from the moment they trooped in at around 6 pm. The first nominee to stroll in was a formally dressed Hemant Seth, who was expecting a trophy for his thriller 666-X-Zone. Surekha Sikri-Rege simply dressed in a silk gold and black saree came in vying for the Best Actress award for her performance in Samay.

Her competitor Shruti Ulfat, nominated for her acting in I Love You, oozed charm as she walked in with her husband. Chaitali Chakraborty flew in from Delhi to see if her show Bol Baby Bol would bag the trophy for the Best General Entertainment show.

Last year’s Best Actress Mona Ambegaonkar, dressed in trousers and a jacket, was all smiles, expecting a follow-up this year. First time nominee Sohail Tatari quietly came in, attired in a white salwar kurta. His serial Kadam (Breast Cancer) was competing in the Best Drama series.

The glamourous Reena Wadhwa created a flutter at the entrance as she came in with her husband. With them was the director of her nominated serial, Aatish - Sanjay Upadhyay, his wife and two kids. Nivedita Saraf nominated in the Best Comedy category for her sitcom Don’t Worry Ho Jayega came in with her son and niece. Hubby Ashok Saraf was nowhere to be seen. "He’s on his way," she said.

Ekta Kapoor who had two nominations, made it to the function just as the nominees were being announced. The tension and excitement amongst the nominees was palpable as the crucial hour approached.

And when Padmini Kolhapure, looking beautiful in a blue salwar kameez was invited alongwith RN Dhoot of Videocon to present the awards, things started hotting up. The first award to be given away was in the category of Best Drama series with Kadam (Breast Cancer) emerging the winner. Sohail Tatari, Atul Tiwari and a team-mate were all smiles as they collected the much-coveted trophy. In the thriller category Govind And Ganesh was chosen as depicting the best edge-of-the-seat story. Producer Pulakesh Bhowmick couldn’t contain himself as he ran to collect his award. Holding the trophy aloft he yahooed in excitement. We’re sure he’s still on cloud nine. He’s already planned his next move and is all set to enter film production in a big way. Way to go, Pulakesh.
When it came to comedy, it was Office Office which had our entire jury in splits as they unanimously voted for it. Rajiv Mehra, director of the series, collected the trophy happily and soon disappeared backstage to pose for the camera. Best Actress Reena Wadhwa couldn’t believe that she had bagged the award, what with Surekha Sikri-Rege, Mona Ambegaonkar, Rohini Hattangadi and Shruti Ulfat competing for the top honour. All the same, Reena was quite calm when she went to receive the trophy. It was when she went backstage that realisation seemed to dawn, and Reena’s excitement burst forth. Her enthusiasm was contagious as she talked nineteen to the dozen, all the while hugging her trophy.

Pankaj Kapur, chosen as the Best Actor over Irfan Khan, Farooque Shaikh, Dilip Joshi and Vrijesh Hirjee was cool, but proud about his achievement. And why not? He is one of the best things to happen to television.

But the best of the best was yet to come. It was the category for Best Anchors and the nominee list itself was enough to create excitement. Giving others a run for their money was superstar Amitabh Bachchan who was nominated for anchoring the popular game show Kaun Banega Crorepati. After the nominees were announced which included Shekhar Suman, Anupam Kher, Kunal Kohli and Archana Puran Singh, Padmini Kolhapure asked, "Do we have a choice?" Yes, the best anchor award went to Amitabh Bhachchan, who unfortunately wasn’t present to collect the trophy as he was away in London launching KBC in the UK. But as Nafisa Joseph, hostess of the evening put it, "Bina kisi lifeline ke hum yeh keh sakte hai ki hum sabne Amitabhji ko hamare dilon mein lock kar diya hai." No two ways about that.

No prizes for guessing which show was adjudged the Best Entertainment Show from among KBC, Movers & Shakers, Bol Baby Bol, Musafir Hoon Yaaron and Say Na Something to Anupam Uncle. There’s only one show that has created unprecedented television viewing in recent times and that’s Kaun Banega Crorepati. But producer Siddharth Basu couldn’t make it to the event much as he wanted to, since his book was being released in Delhi on the same day. "The date for the book release function was decided two months ago and there was no way I could change that," he said in his characteristic drawl.

All in all the eventful night had its shares of joys and sorrows. While the winners were jubilant, those who couldn’t win were a wee bit disappointed. Archana Puran Singh who lost to the Big B in the Best Anchor category made feminists proud as she said, "I was the only female to be nominated amongst the males, that itself is a kind of achievement." As for the others, they cheerfully applauded the winners and promised themselves to get it the next time. Well, so long then...

Chaya Unnikrishnan
chayau@hotmail.com

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