We take a quick look at some of the top Bollywood flicks up for hardware at the International Indian Film Academy Awards
There’s been no shortage of Bollywood-related events taking place around the GTA this week, but even amidst all the hype and hoopla we haven’t forgotten why the biggest stars in Bollywood have descended on Toronto: the IIFA Awards at the Rogers Centre on Centre (yup, it’s big). While we wouldn’t call ourselves Bollywood experts, we’ve been following the scene pretty closely ever since we heard the awards would be coming to Toronto. With that in mind, we offer a small preview of five of the biggest and best films in the running at tomorrow’s spectacle, after the jump.
1. Once Upon a Time in Mumbai
Big names: Ajay Devgan, Emraan Hashmi, director Milan Luthria
Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Lead Actor (Devgan), Best Director (Luthria), Best Screenplay and eight others
Our take: The trailer tells us: “In the age of Chocolate Boys, rewind to the era of Real Men” We’re not sure what that means (or how, exactly, we would go about doing that), but the movie looks like a time-shifting sex-and-violence-packed ode to American gangster flicks. In other words, we’re big fans.
2. My Name is Khan
Big names: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, director Karan Johar
Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Lead Actor (Khan), Best Director (Johar), Best Story and two others
Our take: Shah Rukh Khan plays Rizwan Khan (because when you’re this big, you don’t have to change your name for movie roles), a Muslim with Asperger’s syndrome who’s detained at LAX following 9/11 for “suspicious behavior.” A lot of important issues are tackled in this film, a pleasant surprise coming from this guy (fast-forward to the 1:15 mark—trust us).
3. Guzaarish
Big names: Aishwarya Rai, Hrithik Roshan, and Shernaz Patel
Nominated for: Best Lead Actress (Rai), Best Lead Actor (Roshan), Best Director (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) and two others
Our take: In another heartstring-pulling drama, Roshan plays a quadriplegic. Once the world’s greatest magician, he’s now completely reliant on the care of his live-in nurse (Rai). Their relationship is put to the test when the health of Roshan’s character takes a turn for the worse, prompting him to petition a court to be legally euthanized. In other words, it’s serious.
4. Allah Ke Banday
Big names: Sharman Joshi, Faruk Kabir, and Naseeruddin Shah
Nominated for: Best Performance in a Negative Role (Shah)
Our take: Shah plays the complex, multi-layered and wildly inventive character known as “Warden,” who oversees a youth prison in this crime drama about two young boys growing up in the slums of Mumbai with big dreams. We think we may have seen this story before.
5. Dabangg
Big names: Salman Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, and director Abhinav Kashyap
Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Lead Actor (Khan), Best Character in a Negative Role (Sonu Sood) and eight others
Our take: Khan plays no-nonsense tough guy Chulbul Pandey (but as we learn in the trailer, he prefers to go by “Robin Hood”), a corrupt cop who refuses to play by the rules. Whether it’s murdering bad guys, kicking down doors or dancing up a storm, it appears there’s nothing Robin Hood can’t do while wearing aviators.
