55th Filmfare Awards: Honoring This Year's Best

The 55th Idea Filmfare awards night was not only a scene for stars on the red carpet, but a place for Bollywood to progress as nominees were seen discussing movies that sparked a new genre rather than who won and who lost. As the stars descended from their limos at Yash Raj Studios, Raju Hirani's latest flick, 3 Idiots, clearly snapped up the most popular awards including Best Film, Best Director, Best Story, Best Screenplay, Best Dialogue and Best Supporting Actor. Anurag Kashypa's Dev D took home six awards as well. The Best Actor award went to Amitabh Bachchan for his performance as a progeria-afflicted child in Paa, while Vidya Balan walked away with the Best Actress award for the same film.

As far as couture went, gowns were the popular choice for the younger generation of actors. Both Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone walked in alone wearing a brown and black gown respectively. Katrina said she were here to have fun more than to win the competition. So did Suzzane Roshan who came in a long flowing gown. The Roshans walked in together with Hrithik sporting a neat ponytail, believed to be his new look for Guzaarish. As the event started, Karan Johar came out to escort Pamela Chopra inside the venue. As did Shah Rukh Khan to take Gauri inside, she was also in a gown. Lara Dutta, who walked in with tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi, chose to leave their relationship as a question mark. "We are each others' dates today,'' she quipped. "For the rest, you have to wait and watch.'' Kajol, who came in wearing a red saree, said the show was sure to be "crazy'' as the two Khans, Saif and Shah Rukh, were at the helm once again. "Those madcaps forced me to attend it.'' she said.

The Hindi film industry raised a toast to its members who hit paydirt at the box-office and won critical acclaim as well. Much to the delight of the spectators, show hosts Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan were back after taking a break last year owing to SRK's elbow injury. Wasting no time at all, the irrepressible duo launched their antics on the red carpet itself, and kept pulling out the gags thick and fast through the evening. True to style, the awards were punctuated with live performances by A-list actors Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor as well as Riteish Deshmukh and Jacqueline. Shahid Kapoor's talent at dancing is a foregone conclusion and this time he chose a theme that struck an instant chord with the spectators. The audience remembered the colossal loss of performer Michael Jackson as Shahid moonwalked across the stage.

Another warm tribute was reserved for the living legends. The audience rose to their feet when actor Shashi Kapoor and composer Khayyam were awarded this year's Lifetime Achievement Awards. Both natives of undivided Punjab had started work at an early age, married into their profession and served the country for decades before retiring from the limelight. Khayyam accompanied by wife Jagjit Kaur came to accept the award. "No honor comes before its time, so I am not left with the feeling that the Lifetime Achievement has come too late. I am happy,'' said Khayyam. In a lovely moment the wheelchair-bound but ever-charming Shashi Kapoor was escorted on stage by his nephew Ranbir and niece Kareena.

COMPLETE LIST OF HONOREES:

Best Actor In A Leading Role (Male)
Amitabh Bachchan – Paa

Best Actor In A Leading Role (Female)
Vidya Balan – Paa

Best Film
3 Idiots

Best Director
Rajkumar Hirani – 3 Idiots

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male)
Boman Irani – 3 Idiots

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female)
Kalki Koechlin – Dev D

Best Actor (Male) Critics
Ranbir Kapoor

Best Actor (Female) Critics
Mahie Gill – Dev D

Best Film (Critics)
Firaaq

Best Debut Director (Male)
Ayan Mukherjee – Wake Up Sid

Best Debut Director (Female)
Zoya Akhtar – Luck By Chance

Best Music
A R Rahman – Delhi-6

Best Playback Singer (Male)
Mohit Chauhan – Masakalli – Delhi-6

Best Playback Singer (Female)
Rekha Bharadwaj – Genda Phool – Delhi-6
Kavita Seth – Iktara – Wake Up Sid

Best Lyrics
Irshad Kamil – Aaj Din Chadiya – Love Aaj Kal

Best Story
Abhijat Joshi, Rajkumar Hirani – 3 Idiots

Best Screenplay
Rajkumar Hirani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Abhijat Joshi – 3 Idiots

Best Dialogue
Rajkumar Hirani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra – 3 idiots

Best Editing
Sreekar Prasad – Firaaq

Best Choreography
Bosco – Caesar – Chor Bazaari – Love Aaj Kal

Best Visual Effect Award
Kaminey

Best Sound Design
Manas Chaudhury – Firaaq

Best Production Design
Helen & Sukant – Dev D

Best Cinematography
Rajeev Rai – Dev D

Best Action
Vijayan Master – Wanted

Best Costume
Vaishali Menon – Firaaq

Best Background Score
Amit Trivedi – Dev D

Special Award
Nandita Das – Firaaq

Lifetime Achievement Award
Shashi Kapoor – Khayyam

R D Burman Music Award
Amit Tivedi