The (O)Scars of India

A chance encounter with one of the Hindi/Marathi film industry's multiple Annual Award Ceremonies has been the trigger for me to write what you will read ahead. The 'Nokia presents 16th Annual Star Screen Awards 2010' is the ceremony in question. Supposed to be a gala glittery event with 'star studded performances', the ceremony was telecast with much editing on television.

I'm not sure about the stars, but it WAS studded with lethargic 'performances', jokes of the calibre of Sajid Khan's sense of humour (which is a feat, by the way, given that he himself was not present), and a host of immature and unfunny gags. An overdose of Vidhu Vinod Chopra's antics, specially after the press-conference fiasco, did nothing to help. The only saving grace, perhaps, was Shah Rukh Khan's quick-wittedness, which he too made it a point to let slip only accidentally. And this is the state of not one, but all award ceremonies in India. Presenters think making funny faces covers up for not being able to recall their lines or read the teleprompters, and having buffaloes on stage qualifies as a stand-by for lack of creative ideas. Cherry on the cake is when, before telecast, special effects like recorded laughter are added in an effort to spruce the thing up.

On comparison with the Oscar ceremony, which is infinitely more sophisticated and mature, and is fortunately telecast live, leaving no time for adding recorded laughter, I find the Indian ceremonies a pathetic attempt. And I'm not ready to believe that this is caused by lack of creativity. The exorbitant amount of money spent in designing costumes and sets should have been spent on hiring creative minds to script the show. The organisers need to be told that a simple stage can also look elegant, perhaps more than jazzy ones.

Another point to note is the absence of any singing/music performances, despite the fact that music sales for some movies account for more than their earnings from theatres! In India, traditionally, music has been the soul as well as the USP of a film, but unfortunately, singers/musicians do not figure in any award show performances. I, for one, would prefer to listen to a jugalbandi of Sivamani and Ustad Zakir Hussain rather than Chatur's crass jokes (irrespective of his performance in 3 Idiots).

Award ceremonies in their current state are more of an insult to an industry that has taken the world by storm. Nevertheless, I shall hope for the day when the sense and maturity of the Oscar ceremony came to India and not just the trophy.