Star Screen Awards: No longer simply Bollywood

The first of this year’s major film awards ceremonies, the 17th Annual Star Screen Awards, took place last night January 6, at Mumbai's MMRDA Grounds at Bandra-Kurla Complex.

Behind the mighty stage presence of Shah Rukh Khan and his co-host Shahid Kapur and beyond the blinding starshine of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Katrina Kaif's dance performances there is something more important to take-away from this year's Star Screen Awards.

The nominations and the winners together reflect perhaps an early realization that the term Bollywood can no longer comfortably be a blanket term for popular Indian cinema.

More than half of the six Best Film nominees are small town or small budget films. They amplify the voices of farmers, small town boys and girls as protagonists with unknown actors in lead roles, and directors following their instincts towards veracity over escapism.

For Best Film trophy, three out of six in the category nominations -- "Band Baaja Baaraat", "Peepli [Live]" and "Udaan" -- have been made by first-time directors Maneesh Sharma, Anusha Rizvi and Vikramaditya Motwane, respectively. And these three films, along with director Dibakar Banarjee's "Love Sex Aur Dhokha" which was also nominated for Best Film, is challenging the all-powerful idea of Bollywood fantasy.

"Udaan", the winner of Best Film and Best Director proves that 1) big is not always better in terms of sets and scale, 2) that a star cast is not the only route to success and 3) that reality -- India's harsh, heart wrenching struggles with poverty, domestic violence and socio-cultural class structures -- can be more moving than melodrama.

But before you think of a catchy burial hymn for the term "Bollywood" it must be said that if mega blockbuster "Dabanng" featuring muscle-y superstar Salman Khan, can win six awards including Best Actor, Best Choreography and Most Promising Newcomer (Female) -- then it's safe to say that cheesy dialogue and the volumptous Indian midriff still reflect popular taste.

What I like about "Dabanng" as well, is its bravado. To direct Bollywood towards a self-conscious parody of itself is an evolution of sorts which the film's directors, actors and producers pull off with comic class.

Besides the story being Bollywood at heart, "Dabanng"'s refreshing treatment of the script is why it won top honors last night.  

The Hindi film industry is diversifying and layering while retaining its core: that fantastical, emotional color splash we call Bollywood. And this is a sign of healthy growth, as the results of the 17th Annual Star Screen Awards will vouch for.

Read an interview with the director of "Udaan" and experience "Dabanng" with the masses at a single screen theater in Mumbai.

Photo galleries and more at the Star Screen Awards official website. The complete telecast will air on Star Plus, January 22 at 8 p.m.