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Dazzling Performances By Bollywood Stars Light Up The Big Apple
Mira Nair, Danny Glover and Asha Parekh Receive Special Awards; Vivek Oberoi, Bipasha Basu, Arjun Rampal and Other Bollywood Stars Perform Their Greatest Hits
New York, May 26, 2007 - The Bollywood Movie Awards 2007 for outstanding achievements and performances in Indian cinema reeled out top Bollywood stars and glittering performances on May 26, 2007 at the Nassau Coliseum in New York. The film extravaganza drew thousands of people from all over the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean, all eager to see their favorite stars honored and perform at the magnum opus.
Donald Trump sent a recorded special welcome message congratulating Bollywood Group Chairman, Kamal Dandona, and his son Rajiv, for building bridges between Hollywood and Bollywood and praising their spectacular productions, previously held at his Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.
The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was the popular Mona Singh of the Jassi Jaise Koi Nahi fame She kept the audience enthralled and engaged throughout the event with her witty jokes on Bollywood current affairs. Performers included Soha Ali Khan, Urmila Matonkar, Neha Dhupia, Arjun Rampal and Bipasha Basu, all of whom performed to a medley of their greatest hits. Vivek Oberoi's debut performance in the United States stole the show. His dramatic entry, standing on an electric trolley, rolling through the aisles of the audience, geared up his fans for his powerful presentation which lasted almost thirty minutes and included performances from his biggest hits, skits and interactions with fans. For the finale, he pulled his Omkara co-star, Bipasha Basu, from the audience onto the stage to dance to their popular number, Beedi Jalaye.
Mira Nair received the Pride of India Award for her body of work which has made her a household name around the world, while proudly reveling in her rich Indian heritage, making the world celebrate India along with her. Danny Glover, Hollywood actor best known for his roles in the Lethal Weapon franchise, also received a special award for his contribution to Global Entertainment. He was clad in a pink embroidered kurta pajama and spoke of his desire to receive an "opportunity to work in Bollywood."
Lage Raho Munnabhai director, Rajkumar Hirani, picked up the awards for Best Director and Best Film, attesting to the widespread popularity of "Gandhi-giri" outside of India. The votes for the award winners were cast by Non-Resident-South Asians. Hirani is shooting the sequel, Munnabhai Chale Amrika, and disclosed that he wrote much of the three scripts in Ohio, America.
Raghav from the UK, Shahidi Mini and Warig Baig from Pakistan, Rick Ramdehal from the Caribbean also performed their hit songs.
Attendees such as Rajkumar Hirani, Kirron Kher, Sikandar Kher, Bipasha Basu, Arjun Rampal, Kangana Ranaut, Vikram Chatwal, Danny Glover, Mira Nair, Neha Dhupia, Urmila Matonkar, Danny Glover, Mira Nair,Ohylicia Rashad, Upen Patel, Bradley Cooper (Alias and Wedding Crasher star) and Sony Television India VP, Rajan Singh lined the front row.
The post-event dinner, hosted by Kamal Dandona, Chairman and CEO of the Bollywood Group, saw the leaders of the entertainment industry and business mingle till the wee hours of the morning at Long Island's prestigious "Nanking" restaurant.
The event will be telecast on Sony Entertainment Television; Walmart, State Farm, Air India, Direct TV, Bharat Matrimony, Luggage Point, Rams Creations, Nationwide, India Abroad were among the official sponsors.
Winners for the 2007 Bollywood Movie Awards
Best Film
Lage Raho Munnabhai (Vidhu Vinod Chopra)
Best Director
Rajkumar Hirani (Lage Raho Munnabhai)
Best Actor
Hrithik Roshan (Dhoom 2)
Best Actress
Bipasha Basu (Corporate)
Best Actor in A Supporting Role (Male)
Vivek Oberoi (Omkara)
Best Actor In A Supporting Role (Female)
Kirron Kher (Rang De Basanti)
Best Actor In A Negative Role (Male/Female)
Saif Ali Khan (Omkara)
Best Actor In A Comic Role (Male/Female)
Anupam Kher (Khosla Ka Ghosla)
Best Music Director
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy)
Best Playback Singer (Male)
Shaan (Chand Sifarish - Fanaa)
Best Playback Singer (Female)
Alka Yagnik (Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna)
Best Lyrics
Prasoon Joshi (Subhanallah - Fanaa)
Best Story
Lage Raho Munnabhai (Rajkumar Hirani / Abhijit Joshi)
Best Screenplay
Rang De Basanti (Rensil D'Silva, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra)
Best Dialogue
Lage Raho Munnabhai (Rajkumar Hirani)
Best Editing
Rang De Basanti (PS Bharathi)
Best Sound
Dhoom 2 (Dwarak Warrier)
Best Cinematography
Dhoom 2 (Vikas Sivaraman & Nirav Shah)
Best Art Direction
Rang De Basanti (Samir Chanda)
Best Choreography
Shiamak Davar (Dhoom - Dhoom 2)
Best Debut - Male
Upen Patel (36 China Town)
Best Debut - Female
Kangana Ranaut (Gangster)
Best Costume Designer
Manish Malhotra (Kabhi Alvida Na Kehnaa)
Pride of India Award
Mira Nair
Lifetime Achievement
Asha Parekh
Outstanding Contribution to Global Entertainment
Danny Glover
Honorary Award for Contribution to Indian Cinema
Mr. Ken Naz of Eros Entertainment
Source: Bollywood Group