Who needs exploding action sequences or pounding soundtracks when you have the drama and pageantry of the 66th Filmfare Awards? Held in the heart of Mumbai, the Bollywood equivalent of Hollywood's Oscars brought together film stars and filmmakers on February 2021 for an event soaked in glitz, glamour, and let's be honest, a little too much of wokeness.
The occasion was marked not just by its glittering attendees, but by palpable political undertones. Award shows these days are more about virtue-signaling rather than focusing on genuine talent. A myopic liberal-heavy landscape that sidelines pure creative genius for those who can toe the socio-political line.
First and foremost, the biggest talk of the night was Taapsee Pannu's Best Actress accolade for her power-packed performance in "Thappad." While we can't deny her skills, the movie's heavy-handed narrative about feminism diluted the genuine acting chops displayed. It’s the new trend—movies and performances get more accolades for their social messages than for truly being masterpieces.
Next up was the Best Actor position, clinched by the fabulous Irrfan Khan for his role in "Angrezi Medium," and fittingly so, considering his untimely passing. In a world where virtue-signaling might have clouded judgements, the recognition of seasoned talent is refreshing—like spotting a red poppy amongst dull daisies.
"Gully Boy," the film that took the awards by storm, clearly emerged as the night's darling, sweeping categories across the board. Directed by Zoya Akhtar, it decimated the competition by winning Best Film and multiple technical awards. Yet, as fabulous as the film's portrayal of music and dreams was, it subtly nudged a narrative of class struggle which one could argue was a way to appeal to a particular brand of politics.
Don't even get me started on the Best Director award. Zoya Akhtar walked off with it for "Gully Boy," which has a plot seemingly chewed and regurgitated from "8 Mile." But hey, Bollywood always had a special knack for taking Western stories and painting them with its own cultural brush. While some might call this a liberal victory, the true artistry is sometimes overshadowed by political messaging.
When it comes to supporting roles, the choices were predictable. Best Supporting Actor went to Siddhant Chaturvedi for "Gully Boy." While he had an excellent performance, arguably it was nothing that would overshadow traditional roles that have stood the test of time. Gully Boy co-star Amruta Subhash bagged Best Supporting Actress with her no-nonsense character portrayal, well-earned, yet predictable through a socio-political lens.
The night was not just about awards, but also underscores Bollywood's inclination to embrace narratives that resonate with urban liberal sensibilities. More power to stories centric to urban strife rather than rural struggles, right?
Such award shows also pull back the curtain on how star power still drives this industry. It’s not merely about the recognition of talent but rather upholding Bollywood’s glitterati. Their speeches, peppered with conscious efforts to echo a certain ideology, overshadow the real purpose of these awards, which is to celebrate the art and not just the narrative.
These awards shroud a historical filmmaking tradition in velvet carpets and crystal glasses. Every now and then, reality does peek through the velvet, awarding people who might actually deserve it for reasons purely born out of skill.
In essence, the 66th Filmfare Awards was a grand affair, but peppered with predictable choices. You could see it as both a platform for celebrating cinematic excellence and a stage for social commentaries. It draws a clear line between those seeking talent and those who tow the political line for snazzy entertainment free from actual discussion.
The 66th Filmfare Awards is a reminder that while some may walk away winners, sometimes the real defeat is for raw talent that gets overshadowed by narratives that the champagne crowd prefers to sip on.