‘Bollywood Oscars’ honors Sridevi

‘Jurassic World’ actor Khan wins Indian film award

BANGKOK, June 25, (Agencies): Bollywood superstar Sridevi Kapoor was honoured for her final role at India’s movie awards in Bangkok, winning best actress at the celebration of dance, music and film just months after her shock death.

Sridevi was considered one of the most influential Bollywood actresses of all time. Her death from accidental drowning in a Dubai hotel room bathtub aged 54 in February left the nation in stunned grief.

“I have mixed emotions today. I miss her every minute and second of my life,” her widower Boney Kapoor said as he collected the gong on her behalf at the Indian Film Academy’s (IIFA) annual awards ceremony.

“I still feel she is around ... I want you all to support Janhvi like you supported her mother,” the Bollywood producer said in an emotional speech quoted by Indian media, referring to the eldest of Sridevi’s two daughters who is set to make her Bollywood debut.

With an audience of more than 850 million, the IIFA Awards — dubbed Bollywood’s Oscars by some in the industry — is India’s biggest media event.

It is also one of the world’s mostwatched annual entertainment shows, held outside India to demonstrate Bollywood’s global appeal.

Sridevi “was the queen of grace and worthy of every praise”, read a message from the IIFA’s Twitter account.

The ceremony saw India’s biggest stars descend on the Thai capital late Sunday for a riotous evening filled with glamour and stunning dance routines.

But it was given an additional tinge

R. Kelly.

(AFP)

LOS ANGELES:

Janet Jackson was not only the first recipient of the Radio Disney Impact award, but the honor will live on in her name, Raven Simone and Fifth Harmony alum Normani Kordei announced from Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre on June 22. The Radio Disney Music Awards, broadcast across Disney platforms on June 23, drew top talent from music, social of sadness as best actor went to Irrfan Khan, known internationally for his roles in blockbusters “Life of Pi” and “Slumdog Millionaire”, in his absence.

Earlier this year the Indian actor, who was also in the 2016 film “Inferno” alongside Tom Hanks and is one of Bollywood’s most globally recognised exports, revealed he has a rare tumour and is being treated in London.

Divide

Khan bagged the award for his role in “Hindi Medium”, a film highly critical of India’s class divide in which he plays a father trying to get his daughter into a prestigious school.

The subject of Sridevi’s last film “Mom” also touched a sensitive topic in India — that of rape, with the actress portraying a mother seeking to avenge a sex attack on her stepdaughter.

The event saw veteran actor Anupam Kher honoured with the “IIFA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema”. The Indian star is known abroad for his roles in “Bend It Like Beckham” and “Silver Linings Playbook”.

Best picture went to “Tumhari Sulu” which stars Vidya Balan as a housewife who becomes a DJ offering relationship advice on a late-night radio show. Saket Chaudhary scooped best director for “Hindi Medium”.

The ceremony saw veteran actress Rekha, 63, roll back the years as she belted out vintage hits in a rare public performance, as well as routines from the likes of Ranbir Kapoor and Kriti Sanon.

Organisers opted for a green carpet instead of red to raise awareness of environmental issues and it was graced by stars like Varun Dhawan, Konkona

media and the Disney stable of stars.

Big winners of the night included Kpop group BTS and pop hitmaker Shawn Mendes (Best Artist). Representing the girls taking home a trophy — called the Ardy — were Camila Cabello (Breakout Artist and Song of the Year for “Havana”), Kelsea Ballerini (Radio Disney Country Favorite Artist) and Bebe Rexha (Best New Artist, Radio Disney Country Favorite Song for “Meant To Be” with Florida

Davido accepts the best international act award at the BET Awards at the Microsoft Theatre on June 24, in Los Angeles. (AP)

Sen Sharma, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Arjun Kapoor.

However the National Film Awards, established in 1954, are still considered India’s most prestigious film awards ceremony.

IIFA will be broadcast worldwide on television on July 29.

“The fact that we are 1.2 billion people in India helps” boost the audience, said Sabbas Joseph, the event’s organiser, adding that viewing figures are also strong in the Middle East and in countries with large Indian communities.

Bollywood’s leading lady of the 1980s and ‘90s, Sridevi was described as the first female superstar in India’s male-dominated film industry. She accidentally drowned in February while in Dubai for a wedding.

The leading film coming into the event, “Tumhari Sulu,” took home the best picture prize. The story of a housewife who becomes a radio jockey had seven nominations.

Director Saket Chaudhary and actor Irrfan Khan won top awards for “Hindi Medium,” a tale of parents seeking a good education for their daughter. Khan, best known internationally for his role as the park executive Masrani in “Jurassic World,” has been undergoing treatment for neuroendocrine cancer.

The IIFA awards event, held each year in cities around the world, celebrates the Hindi-language film industry with awards and performances.

Performers on Sunday included Rekha, who returned to the stage for the first time in 20 years. The 64-year-old star is known as Bollywood’s timeless beauty and has acted in more than 180 films.

Georgia Line).

The two-hour show was highlighted by rousing performances, including several mashups: Kelly Clarkson ran through her own hits — among them: “Since U Been Gone,” “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” “My Life Would Suck Without You” and “Miss Independent” — as did Meghan Trainor, combining “Let You Be Right,” “All About That Bass,” “Can’t Dance,” “Me Too” and “No Excuses” as the show opener. Another “American Idol” winner was a show-stopper: Carrie Underwood who delivered “The Champion” featuring Ludacris. (RTRS)

LOS ANGELES:

Yes, it was basically Coachella for a more seasoned crowd, but there were plenty of happy discoveries for everyone on Saturday at the Arroyo Seco Weekend music festival in Pasadena, Calif.

The Brookside golf course behind the Rose Bowl was a spacious and verdant setting for the second year of the two-day festival aimed at families and heritage rock fans. Plenty of millennials turned out too, as acts like Neil Young and Jack White proved to transcend generations. “Belle and Sebastian were my favorite band in high school!,” exclaimed a festival worker as he munched on pizza during his meal break.

After Coachella upped its food game a few years ago with an array of well-known chefs, more festivals have stepped up their game to make sure patrons who spend upwards of $250 for the weekend have more than hot dogs and weak beer to choose from. (RTRS)