And the award night goes to ....

Ok! I take all the besmirches on the movie back and ignore the ‘bloopers’ which were omitted by the Oscar winning editing department. Poverty porn/tourism or regaling dystopia – all complains and shenanigans have been vehemently discarded by the 5810 strong jury. There were some lovely scenes which will be etched in our memories forever. The kids looking dapper in the designer attires, suddenly gorgeous Freida Pinto, ‘little boy’ Rahman in a black Sherwani, a shy Vikas Swarup in the background, Anil Kapoor swaying the ‘golden man’ as his own and the magnanimity of the producer who made the podium look like a party while accepting the award. Eight Oscars and the issue is settled. Let us move on …

It was one of those days when there were minimum surprises at the announcements at Kodak theatre. Some may argue that Sean Penn sneaked the rug from under Mickey Rourke’s feet but we all know that Sean Penn has been an academy favorite and some of Mickey Rourke’s antics would not have earned him too many fans in the past and the Academy has long memories. Poor Jim Carrey is still a pariah when it comes to Academy Awards. I saw ‘Milk’ yesterday and really liked the movie and the superlative acting – as Robert De Niro said ‘Sean is never in his movies – it is always the character - whether it is a Sam, a Milk or Dead Man walking!’( Secretly let me confess, this is fifth time – I see a movie on the eve of the awards ceremony and the actor wins Best Actor in a leading role – As Good As it Gets , Training Day, Mystic River, There will be Blood… )

Like the Oscar acceptance speech, I could not resist making a few notes and words of mention to squeeze in before the ‘limiting tune’ plays again …

Kate Winslet, finally overcame the thirteen year curse and embellished her already awesome filmograhy with the golden statuette on her sixth nomination. If anyone has any realistic expectation of even coming close to the ‘15 and still running’ record of Meryl Streep – it is her. Like Meryl each movie of hers is like a once in a lifetime performance. Kudos – We hope to see more of you!

Penelope - for making it big Hollywood with the accent and getting over the glam doll innuendo and some mindblowing original stuff in perhaps the most fought category of the evening. Finally you emerged ‘the woman on top’!

Simon for writing Slumdog Millionaire from an otherwise trite and average story (sorry Vikas ! Much as I like your writing ‘SM’ is a Simon Beaufoy creation!)

Antony Dod Mantle – for teaching us that there are visages and hues of India that make it starkly different from any other place in the world. And a silent prayer that there will be bolder attempts behind the camera in our cinema !

Heath – May your soul rest in peace! Perhaps not for the untimely death, the others could have given a run for the award – nonetheless sadly the grand finale of one who could have been up among the legends of all time. Perhaps you are already there !

The brilliant format of actors coming on stage to introduce the nominees of this year was amazing. I hope our own Filmfare and other organizers copy this remarkably wistful and delicious idea. I hope this is here to stay – listening to Sissy Spacek applauding Anne Hathaway was itself like an award bestowed !Finally for Hugh Jackman for being one of the most underplayed hosts at the Academy Awards who flitted and sailed in and out effortlessly, making this perhaps one of the most punctiliously coordinated Awards functions I have seen !