When glitz meets good cinema

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Jodhaa, A Wednesday sweep 'Star Screen awards'Genelia was the best thing about Jaane Tu..: Abbas'I missed Birbal in Jodha Akbar'

Mumbai: The awards season in Hollywood is kicked off by the Golden Globes that took place last Sunday in Los Angeles, honouring the Mumbai-based film Slumdog Millionaire and Indian composer AR Rahman. In India, award ceremonies begin with the Star Screen awards.

Each year, this hotly awaited evening indulges in an extended new-year celebration fior many. Like Shah Rukh Khan, nominated for Best Actor for Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi . “Being nominated is a very nice way to start the New Year and I’m very thrilled,” he says.

The Nokia 15 th Annual Star Screen Awards take place tonight, at Mumbai’s never-ending MMRDA Grounds. A look at the nomination list is a giveaway that the ceremony—which packs the celebration of good cinema with oodles of glamour—will be celebrating the cross-section of films that marked 2008. In the race for top honours are A Wednesday, Ghajini, JaaneTu…Ya Jaane Na, Jodhaa Akbar, Rock On!!! and Sarkar Raj—with nominations both in Best Film and Best Director categories.

While A Wednesday, though hugely impressive, is a small-budget production, Jodhaa Akbar redefined opulence in Bollywood. JaaneTu and Rock On!! ooze youthful energy. And action and drama scaled a new height with Ghajini and Sarkar Raj respectively . The Best Director nominee for Rock On!!, Abhishek Kapoor, admits, “I’m elated to be nominated. It was an out-of-box film about rock musicians and their aspirations.” More out-of-box movies to enjoy the spotlight at the awards are Aamir (4 nominations) and Mumbai Meri Jaan (3).

Competing for Best Actor (Female) are Aishwarya Rai Bachchan ( Jodhaa Akbar ), Asin ( Ghajini ), Genelia D’souza ( Jaane Tu ), Kajol ( U, Me Aur Hum ) and Priyanka Chopra ( Fashion ). The contest in the Best Actor (Male) category becomes wider with eight nominations—Aamir Khan ( Ghajini ), Abhishek Bachchan ( Dostana , also supporting actor nomination for Sarkar Raj ), Akshay Kumar ( Singh Is Kinng ), Amitabh Bachchan ( Sarkar Raj ), Hrithik Roshan ( Jodhaa Akbar ), Naseeruddin Shah ( A Wednesday ), Ranbir Kapoor (Bachna Ae Haseeno ) and Khan.

Twin nominations have made Abhishek Bachchan very happy. “I’m truly excited that my work has been recognised and I’m looking forward to the awards function,” he says.