Currently, the weather in Dubai is to die for and the presence of Bollywood stalwarts like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan has made it all the more necessary for everyone to pack their bags and fly down to the city that has become synonymous with pure entertainment.
Ranveer Singh (seen here with Amitabh Bachchan & Shah Rukh Khan) is having the time of his life. Having stunned critics & fans alike with his acting in Bajirao Mastani, Singh is picking up the Best Actor trophy at all award ceremonies this year.
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Instep evaluates why TOIFA 2016 was one of the best Bollywood award shows to take place this year.
Dubai
Currently, the weather in Dubai is to die for and the presence of Bollywood stalwarts like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan has made it all the more necessary for everyone to pack their bags and fly down to the city that has become synonymous with pure entertainment.
TOIFA 2016 was my sixth outing to a Bollywood awards show but hands down, TOIFA Dubai has been the most organized, secure and diverse award ceremony that I have attended so far.
People flew in from places like Kuwait and Norway and paid several thousands of dirhams in a bid to get as close to the stars as possible. And the star line-up did not disappoint. TOIFA 2016 was a complete Bollywood experience; a celebration of Indian cinema in all its glory.
Salman Khan’s unique performance was dedicated to the ‘Heroes of Bollywood’ and was one of the highlights of the night.
TOIFA got plenty of things right. Kangana Ranaut did win the Best Actress trophy in the popular category while Kalki Koechlin won the Best Actress Award in the critics’ category, which means that TOIFA was the only award show that had the courage to recognize content over commercial appeal and to translate the same. Deepika Padukone was not given any award that night besides Best Jodi Award that she shared with Ranveer Singh. Not that Deepika did not give a brilliant performance, but I truly believe that Kangana’s double punch as Tannu and Datto overshadowed all other performances last year but sadly, she did not receive due recognition for it.
Ranveer Singh’s win, on the other hand, did not come as a surprise. He is having the best time of his life and is turning into the same force that SRK went on to become after Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayeinge, or Salman, for that matter, after Hum Aapke Hain Kaun. Bajirao Mastani went on to pick the maximum number of awards on this night but it was delightful to see Bajrangi Bhaijaan finally win an award for Best Film.
Performances
A power-packed line-up of star performances is equally important for an awards show to tap into the television audience and TOIFA scored very well here. The hosts for the evening, Riteish Deshmukh and Parineeti Chopra, had the audience in splits with their comic timing, quirky remarks and playful interactions with the celebrities while the high-octane performances gave a much-needed adrenaline rush.
Kareena Kapoor-Khan’s performance was an ode to the ‘Divas of Bollywood’ such as Helen, Sridevi and Karisma Kapoor.
Varun Dhawan opened the night with his performance on Bollywood super hits. He also did a special act on the latest, chartbusting, party song ‘Kar Gayi Chul’ for his friends Sidharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt. Jacqueline Fernandes’ glamorous act on all her popular songs such as ‘Aa Zara’ and ‘Chittiyan Kalaiyan’ marked the beginning of complete Bollywood entertainment.
It’s also not a usual sight to see Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan perform back to back, less than 20 minutes apart. Salman Khan’s unique on-stage presence during his performance, which was dedicated to ‘Heroes of Bollywood’, was certainly one of the highlights of the night. When he opened his arms wide to imitate Shah Rukh’s signature style for his song ‘Chammak Challo’, the stadium echoed with the loudest of applauds. Shah Rukh Khan enthralled the audience with his performance on ‘Jabra Fan’, ‘Gerua’ and ‘Chaiyyan Chaiyyan’.
Ranveer Singh pumped up energy levels in ‘Amitabh Bachchan’ style with a special tribute to the living legend, which was followed by an award to the veteran actor. Ranveer donned the legend’s best looks for all his popular songs. But the best moment was when Big B joined him on stage for a quick stint on ‘Kajra Re’. To add to the evening, Kareena Kapoor sizzled on the dance floor to pay tribute to the ‘Divas of Bollywood’, starting from Helen to Sridevi to Karisma Kapoor.
While it was a night to remember, it goes without saying that the credibility of any awards show is also measured by its consistency and long-term commitment to continue recognizing the best in business, year after year. If TOIFA wants to be taken seriously, it will have to remain consistent and not just be a one-time affair. That said, with the level of support that the show has received from the industry for the second time in a row, TOIFA has full potential to be the strongest bridge between Bollywood and the Middle East.
– Sadiq Saleem is a UAE based entertainment journalist. He can be contacted on his page fb/sidsaidso.
List of winners
Category Name Movie
1 Best Film NA Bajrangi Bhaijaan
2 Best Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali Bajirao Mastani
3 Best Actor Male Ranveer Singh Bajirao Mastani
4 Best Actor Female Kangana Ranaut Tanu Weds Manu Returns
5 Best Supporting Actor Male Anil Kapoor Dil Dhadakne Do
6 Best Supporting Actor Female Priyanka Chopra Bajirao Mastani
7 Best Actor In a Negative Role Nawazzudin Siddique Badlapur
8 Best Actor in a Comic Role Deepak Dobriyal Tanu Weds Manu Returns
9 Best Debut Male Sooraj Pancholi Hero
10 Best Debut Female Bhumi Pednekar Dum Laga ke Haisha
11 Best Film Critic’s Choice NA Talvar
12 Best Actor Critics – Male Amitabh Bachchan Piku
13 Best Actor Critics - Female Kalki Koechlin Margarita with a Straw
14 Best Debut Director Neeraj Ghaywan Masaan
15 Best Jodi Of The Year Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone Bajirao Mastani
