Ringside View & Scene Stealers
Of winners, players and gun-toters...

STARRY NIGHT
No getting-up late, no lazing around this Sunday... not at least for the film industry. January 23 was, after all, no ordinary Sunday. It was that day of the new millennium when the stars descended upon the ground and the deserving ones lifted the coveted SCREEN-Videocon trophy. It was the day of judgement and deliverance when excellence in Cinema was recognised and rewarded. The sixth SCREEN-Videocon millennial bonanza kicked off to a flying start. Memorable moments of the spectacular, star-studded gala that nippy January evening. The jury members were the first to arrive on the scene and then followed the nominees - nervous, excited.

DIGNIFIED DUTTS
Sanjay Dutt who had been waiting by papa Sunil Dutt’s bed-side for the past fortnight, looked much-relieved and relaxed that evening. Dutt Sr had just been discharged from hospital, and was fast recovering at home. Sanjay walked in with lovely, lissome wife Rhea Pillai and tall and stately sis Priya - they made a distinguished trio. A far cry from his wild and whacky ways, Dutt displayed total restraint and maturity on receiving the Best Actor trophy for Vaastav. Thanking his family and director Mahesh Manjrekar, the winner walked home, his head held high with dignity.

RAVISHING RAIS
Eyes dilated and sighs followed as Aishwarya Rai arrived back-stage to get ready for her act. The screen-beauty was accompanied by her costumier Neeta Lulla, who fitted her elaborate mirror-worked ghagra-choli. Between fixing her eye-lashes and skirt sashes, Ash squinted and smiled at us happily when we congratulated her on being the fore-runner in the Best Actress category for Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Little later, her gorgeous mom Vrinda walked in on proud papa Rai’s arm. The Rais posed for a keep-sake all aglow with happiness and pride. Three cheers to the family!

BETA BRIGADE
Lucky mascot, son Harshvardhan served the purpose as Anil Kapoor bagged the Best Supporting Actor trophy for Taal. Wife Sunita looked on delightedly as her hubby continued being mobbed by fans and well-wishers after all these years. Anil’s cell-phone wouldn’t stop ringing as congratulatory messages rained on him

Ashok Saraf, Best Actor for the Marathi film Sawai Hawaldar, was stuck in a traffic jam and son Aniket stepped in for his winning papa. He rushed down stage with the trophy to his beaming mama Nivedita. Starry-eyed, Aniket enjoyed the show so much he wouldn’t budge from his seat well past his bed-time and the mid-night hour.

Another illustrious beta to accompany his dad was Abhishek Bachchan who preferred to hover back-stage.

Albeit the shock and injuries of the recent shoot-out, Rakesh Roshan called up to wish us luck and he even promised his handsome son Hrithik and brother Rajesh would stand in for him. The police advised them otherwise and held back Hrithik and his chacha. “I will be there next year,” promised Hrithik.

DIAL M FOR MAGIC
Madhuri Nene nee Dixit, in a burnished orange sari, looked very much a new bride that evening. Madhuri graced our show along with her parents and are we grateful to her for attending our big night despite the Pukar bash being held simultaneously! Mads did the honours along with Manisha Koirala.

Manisha, in an ivory-gold ghaghra choli, looked pic-perfect and seemed to be in an ebullient mood as she handed over the Best Director trophy to Sanjay Leela Bhansali, her Khamoshi director. She gave him a tight hug and smiled gloriously.

PROMISES TO KEEP
Nethra Raghuraman’s throaty laughter mingled with Aftab Shivdasani’s gummy guffaws as the two most promising newcomers of the year held their sparkling trophies high in the air and shouted for joy. “I am giddy with happiness. I stopped my mom from attending the show thinking I never stood a chance. And look now,” Nethra giggled deliriously. The Baroda-based model-turned-actress, indeed, had a reason to act silly that night.

An euphoric Aftab hugged one and all in sight as he walked back with the trophy. His proud mama smiled broadly as he smothered her with hugs-n-kisses. “I just can’t believe this,” he kept repeating between tears and smiles.

FRIENDS AND LOVERS
Manoj Bajpai, Best Actor nominee yet again, instead of his lissome lady-luck Neha turned up with his portly secretary Bhaskar Shetty. Wonder why the change of favour? Sporting a black-n-red lycra tee, Manoj guffawed with total abandon at Shekhar Suman’s funnies but remained glued to his seat all the while.

Super baddie Ashutosh Rana was very much with his beaming beau Renuka Shahane and his tribe - dad, brothers and sister with whom he stays in Chembur. The family gathering hinted at something auspicious in the offing. As Sanjeev, of the Sanjeev-Darshan duo and music composer Shravan’s son, sported his lovely fiance that evening - you knew love was in the air.

SHOW STOPPERS
Her eternal charm still works wonders. Drop-dead gorgeous Re in a black and brocade Kanjeeveram made hearts stop. She clutched at her old faithful Farzana’s hand and made it a point to take leave of our Editor. Some as they say are born with style and Rekha is one of those blessed ones.

Twinkle Khanna’s hour-glass figure was a show stealer, no doubt. The Mela gal made many a head turn in that sea-green outfit. Blithe spirit, if any, Twinkle drew a chorus of sighs as she floated away divinely. Sis Rinkie looked simple and petite while mom Dimple, in an elegant ivory salwar suit, made a stylish sartorial statement.

Hema Malini’s daughters Esha and Aahana Deol reflected a touching youthful exuberance as they traipsed along to their seats like a couple of graceful gazelles. Esha, in her black trousers, looked charmingly innocent and vulnerable - enough to arouse a protective feeling in a caring heart. Moon Moon’s lovely lass Raima Sen smiled nervously as the Best Newcomer award was being announced. She sat with the Godmother team.

Urmila Matondkar and Akshay Kumar remained confined to their make-up rooms getting prepared for their acts. While Urmi’s Chamma chamma elicited hearty wolf-whistles from the back-benchers, Akshay’s vigorous dancing made many a fair maiden swoon.

GREAT DYNASTIES
The SCREEN-Videocon Awards took immense pride in felicitating the premier film families - the Barjatyas, Bhatts, Banus, Chopras, Gangulys, Mukherjis, Nadiadwalas, Shantarams,Sippys, Sagars and Roshans for their outstanding and on-going contributions to cinema. Indian cine-goers remain indebted to their unstinted devotion to the field of entertainment.

Young scions of these illustrious families - Sooraj and Rajat Barjatya, Sascha Sippy, Rani, Kajol and Sushant Ray promised to keep the glorious tradition going.

OF GUNS AND ROSES
An ominous cloud of unknown fear loomed large and the film industry seemed to be visibly shaken by the recent Rakesh Roshan shoot-out. Several dignitaries voiced their concern over the threatening conditions and many of them walked in with a posse of gun-toters. Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek had a body-guard, Xavier Marquis had a formidable security entourage with him and so did Bhushan Kumar, son of cassette king Gulshan Kumar who was shot dead by extortionists. Incidentally Nepali beauty Manisha also had a gun-toting guard for company. Anupam Kher, in his long-winding speech, made ironic allusions to the prevailing circumstances thus. “We should hope that our films keep flopping. We shall be safer that way,” he remarked remorsefully. But the fact that 9000-strong crowd witnessed and applauded the show with utmost affection and discipline showed there’s still reason for hope.

Deepa Karmalkar