Did anyone watch these awards?
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Bollywood Sets London Afire with Indian Culture
By Rajiv Sekhri
LONDON (Reuters) - A star-studded cast of Indian film stars gathered at London’s Millennium Dome on Saturday night for the ‘‘Bollywood Oscars’’ – the first International Indian Film Awards to be held in London.
``Wake up and smell the curry,‘’ said Leslee Udwin, director of East is East, a comedy about a Muslim, living in Lancashire, who forces his sons into arranged marriages.
The evening was designed to stress the cultural and economic importance of Indian film in the world – it is the globe’s second biggest film industry with 800 million tickets sold annually – and highlight the perspectives these films can offer to Western culture.
The film ``Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’’ (I’ve given my heart love) won best picture award, with Aishwarya Rai taking best actress for her performance in the film.
Sanjay Dutt, son of Hindi film legend and lifetime achievement award winner Sunil Dutt, won best actor for his performance in the film ``Vaastav.‘’
Singer Lata Mangeshkar, whose voice has added the spice to Hindi films that flow with music and dance, received an award for making an invaluable contribution to Indian film.
Mangeshkar, clad in a light-colored silk sari, told 2,600 audience members in Hindi: ``I have sung for 50 years. I owe it all to the people who have listened. How can I forget them.‘’
Her fans were certainly devoted. When Mangeshkar arrived some walked up to her to touch her feet – a sign of respect in Indian culture.
Shekhar Kapur, best known for directing the Oscar-nominated film Elizabeth, also received an invaluable contribution award.
``When I made Elizabeth, a critic in New York said this is just an extension of Hindi films. That was the best compliment I’ve ever received,‘’ he said.
AWARDS ABOUT ONENESS
``It’s about oneness,‘’ said Sabbas Joseph, executive director at Wizcraft International Entertainment, which spearheaded the award ceremony.
Joseph said bringing together U.S. Oscar Winner Angelina Jolie, who presented an award, martial arts film star Jackie Chan, who received a lifetime achievement award, Australian pop singing sensation Kylie Minogue, and Indian film and music stars promoted a sense of unity.
Angelina Jolie, who starred in the U.S. thriller The Bone Collector,'' wore a long pink evening gown and joined her hands together to symbolize the Indian gesture of welcome as she presented an award. Namaste India,‘’ she said to the cheering crowd.
Jackie Chan, accepting his prize, said: ``I’m good at action but not so good at speeches…I don’t only do action and comedy you know. I’m a good singer and I’m not too expensive.‘’
Hot pinks, purples, silver, gold, reds, yellows, magentas, maroons and parrot greens, brocaded stilettos and shoes, turbans, and heavy gold jewelry glistened as white women dressed in saris accompanied award winners to the stage.
The ceremony, which organizers said was watched by a world-wide television audience of more than a billion people, was hosted by India’s Miss World 1999 Yukta Mookhey and legendary Bollywood star Anupam Kher.
``We have rich culture. This ceremony is just the beginning,‘’ Joseph said as the lights went down