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How Bollywood made Oscar go round
As the Filmfare Awards celebrate the young guns of Indian cinema, Instep takes a look at how the world's fastest growing film industry is finally influencing Hollywood and what we can learn from the two giants.

By Maheen Sabeeh
Young guns blazing!

Last year Bollywood had quite a disastrous run. Big budget flicks like Tashan, Chandni Chowk to China, Ghajini and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi fell flat. They may have charmed Indian audiences - which is pretty easy these days - but as far as quality cinema goes, these were some of the worst films one has seen in recent years. However, even bad films couldn't obstruct the spirit behind the Filmfare Awards this year.

Even as big stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Priyanka Chopra, Abhishek Bachchan and Rekha among many others graced India's most prestigious award ceremony, Filmfare Awards were about the young generation.

Karan Johar led the ceremony as the MC and was joined by fellow director Farhan Akhtar. The real punch came with the new heartthrobs of Bollywood, Imran Khan and Ranbir Kapoor who replaced Shahrukh and Saif as the hosts of the show. The two uber-cool dudes were also joined by Deepika Padukone and Konkana Sen Sharma. And together, the new brat pack of Bollywood stood out. As most new big banner films boast big ensemble casts, Bollywood's biggest awards show boasted an ensemble line-up of hosts.

However the main players were Imran and Ranbir. And while Imran and Ranbir are still no competition for the pairing of Shahrukh-Saif, they were fantastic as first-time hosts.

From shameless self-promotion to flirting with the leading actresses of Bollywood and even each other as a nod to Dostana, imitating Aamir and Shahrukh Khan's diverse looks in the films Ghajini and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Imran and Ranbir kept the evening entertaining throughout.

Referring to the trend of autobiographies in Bollywood, the two actors said stars should write biographies that help the young generation out. The suggestions they gave were hilarious.

"Jawaani ka Noor by Anil Kapoor, Safedi Ki Muskaan by Abbas Mustan, Blog Padhe Hindustan by Aamir Khan, Poore Hue Armaan by AR Rahman, Acting se katti, cricket se batti by Shilpa Shetty, Lucky Hai Indian Soil by Danny Boyle and Haseenaon Pe No Reham by John Abraham".

At times, the humour seemed slightly forced but it was the presence of Imran and Ranbir - who are not just Bollywood's next big things but also belong to star families - that kept the ball rolling. The fact that Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen, Preity Zinta, Priyanka Chopra, John Abraham and Bipasha Basu kept cheering them on was a sight for sore eyes.

Even the performances were about the new guard. There were no performances from Shah Rukh, Salman and Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan. Instead the stage was set for young stars like Neil Nitin Mukesh with Bipasha Basu, Shahid Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar (with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy), Katrina Kaif and the finale was given to two-time nominee Abhishek Bachchan. Barring Bipasha Basu, all the performances were dull. They just didn't have the energy and star power that someone like Akshay or Shahrukh or even Kareena Kapoor bring to the stage. But then, award ceremonies can never be about the old guard. Times are changing and Bollywood is keeping up with the trend. The Filmfare Awards were no match for the spectacular Shahrukh hosted show that was put up last year. But what made the show stand out this year were definitely the youngsters.
Jai Ho! Filmfare influences Oscars

Bollywood has been trying to go global for years and their efforts are finally paying off. Western interest in Bollywood has increased enormously in the last decade. India is a huge market and Hollywood studios are following to lead of other global corporations to cash in on it.

Anil Ambani's Reliance Big Entertainment has signed a 1.2 billion dollars deal with Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks for 36 movies over six years, with 50 percent control. Last year, it also signed with the production companies of George Clooney, Nicolas Cage, Jim Carrey, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and Tom Hanks. Filmmakers Brett Ratner and Chris Columbus were also signed on to fund the development of their scripts and jointly present proposals to studios. Talks are taking place with Universal, Warner Brothers and Lions Gate to distribute the upcoming Hrithik Roshan film Kites. In the last few months, major studios like Warner Brothers and Walt Disney have produced Hindi films.
Despite these deals, India has struggled to reach out to Western audiences and critics. But then came Slumdog Millionaire, changing the Indian perception altogether. With a crew and cast filled with a majority of Indians, the film went onto win eight Academy Awards including Best Picture. AR Rahman made India proud and truly 'arrived' on a spectacular note in the United States. If India made huge noise at the Academy Awards earlier last month, the echoes were felt at the Filmfare Awards a week later.

AR Rahman received a standing ovation while the child stars of Slumdog Millionaire hung out with Shah Rukh Khan onstage and gave their take on going to the Oscars.

Most importantly, with the buzz around Slumdog Millionaire, a growing interest in the world's largest film industry and unflattering ratings over the last few years, the Oscars took up Indian award shows as an influence.

Hugh Jackman hosted this year's Oscars and that was just one sign. The fact that Hugh took a swipe at his own film Australia at the show was reminiscent of Shah Rukh Khan whose self-deprecating humour remains unparalleled. Hugh sweeping Anne Hathaway off her feet quite literally and singing with her onstage… it worked. But it was totally filmi and musical, much like Bollywood.
AR Rahman and John Legend singing 'Jai Ho' and 'Down to Earth' together as the stage was lit up by colourful dancers; Hugh Jackman and Beyonce Knowles with the cast of High School Musical and Mamma Mia! performing a medley of some of the most iconic theme songs - his was all derived tfrom

Filmfare where musical medley, dancing, drama onstage and self-deprecating humour is at its best.

Great films do not make for a great show. Performances, colour, humour make it entertaining. This year, Bollywood's influence on the otherwise sedate Oscars could be seen clearly and the Academy Awards became all the more glorious, and therefore memorable, for it.

Learnings for the LSAs
Both the Oscars and the Filmfare Awards were highly entertaining this year. The Lux Style Awards can take a few tips from both. Bollywood always goes for high voltage ritz whereas Hollywood can make a show standout with little details.

At the Oscars, the segment where five previous Oscar winners come onstage to announce each nominee for Best Actor et al and add their personal words was touching. It was absolutely brilliant. The joint performance of 'Jai Ho' and 'Down to Earth' didn't just look good. It sounded fantastic. Two singers, with such distinct musical sensibilities and songs, came together. It was unison of music in the truest sense. These were moving moments, ones that will be remembered for a long time.

On a vastly different note, watching the Filmfare Awards serve as a platform for the young stars of India was equally thrilling. And this is what one needs to see at the LSAs.

Music at the show has to include newcomers. They will get the ratings if the show is designed in a way that includes the big stars with the newcomers.

Entertainment is changing worldwide. More than Angelina Jolie, it was Anne Hathaway's heartfelt performance in Rachel Getting Married that made heads turn. The young generation cannot relate with Meryl Streep but it can relate with Anne Hathaway. Her small performance with Hugh onstage was not only enjoyable but it was also a sign of encouragement. In the end, this is what award shows are about - encouraging talent.

And what better way of encouragement than giving the platform to the young actors?

If Hugh Jackman can groove with Anne Hathaway, so can Chicago star Sanam Saeed at the LSAs. The LSAs cannot be about the big stars alone and neither can the show go on without them. But there is life beyond Iman Ali and Shaan and it is up to Pakistan's biggest awards show to lead the way. As the faces of Lux, we are taking for granted that they will feature prominently at the next Lux Style Awards, but we do hope that they don't take centre stage all evening. New blood is the lifeline of any industry. This was what the Filmfares and Oscars were about this year. The LSAs should follow their lead.