Shah Rukh Khan overshadows Bachchans at IIFA finale

He wasn't even there but he did overshadow the Bachchans- the Mega Family of Bollywood. There were many who doubted the integrity of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA Awards). IIFA is too close to Bachchans, was the oft-repeated allegation. But as the winners of IIFA 2008 were announced in the Thai capital Bangkok Sunday, June 8, there were many who felt finally the credibility of the IIFA was restored. Awards were not 'fixed' as some lamented earlier. Shah Rukh Khan starrer "Chak De! India", a sports film that touched the hearts of one billion plus people of India, won nine honours and another Khan starrer "Om Shanti Om" collected five awards, writes Kavita Bamzai.

The other film that got the maximum nominations was Mani Ratnam's "Guru" featuring Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Both stars were nominated in the best male and female acting categories. The celebrity couple scored zilch. Shah Rukh Khan received the best actor award for his inspiring role as a Muslim hockey coach in the film. Kareena Kapoor won the Best Actress title for Imtiyaz Ali's "Jab We Met".

Nine Awards for 'Chak De India' (2007) at IIFA 2008 in BangkokNine awards for "Chak De! India" and five for Khan's home production "Om Shanti Om". What a turn-around of focus from Bachchan's family show to Khan's celebration! Revered film producer Yash Chopra collected the awards on Khan's behalf.

Chak De, adjudged the best film of 2007 at this year's IIFA, is about a Muslim Hockey player who had to give up playing the game after being wrongly accused of throwing a match against Pakistan in World Cup.

He returns after seven years as coach of the Indian women's hockey team, leading them to a World Cup victory.

Similarly, the film's director Shimit Amin received the best director's award. Jaideep Sahani received the award for best story for the film.

The awards in the technical section won by the film were : cinematography, Sound recording and sound re-recording, editing.

Jaideep Sahani shared the screenplay award for the film with Anurag Basu (Life in a Metro).

Young stars Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone were adjudged the best new actors for their respective parts in "Saawariya" and "Om Shanti Om."

IIFA Winners at Bangkok- Sunday, 9th June 2008

Best Film – Chak De India
Best Director- Shimit Amin for Chak De India (Amin also won awards for story and screenplay)
Best Actor- Shah Rukh Khan for Chak De India
Best Actress- Kareena Kapoor for 'Jab We Met'
Best Debutant Male and Female- Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone for 'Saawariya' and ‘Om Shanti Om’
Best Style Icon (Male)- Abhishek Bachchan
Best Style Icon (Female)- Katrina Kaif
Best Performance in a Negative Role- Viveik Oberoi for his role in ‘Shootout At Lokhandwala’.
Best Screenplay- Anurag Basu - `Life in a Metro` and Jaideep Sahni - `Chak De! India’
Best Cinematography- Sudeep Chatterji for `Chak De! India
Best Dialogues- Imtiyaz Ali for ’Jab We Met’.
Music Direction- AR Rahman for ‘Barso Re’ in `Guru`.
Best Lyrics- Javed Akhtar for the song ‘Main Agar Kahoon’ from ‘Om Shanti Om’
Playback Singer (Male)- Shaan for ‘Jabse Tere Naina’ in the movie ‘Saawariya’.
Playback Singer (Female)- Shreya Ghoshal for ‘Barso Re’ in Guru.
Best Performance in a Comic Role - Govinda for 'Partner'
Fresh face of the year- Neil Nitin Mukesh was named the Fresh Face of the Year.