Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

IIFA Awards in New York had nothing to offer

Eastern Eye Staff
By Eastern Eye StaffJul 21, 2017
Eastern Eye Staff
See Full Bio

by Asjad Nazir

I mentioned on Twitter the IIFA Awards winners for Best Actor and Best Actress would be Shahid Kapoor and Alia Bhatt even before the ceremony took place.

It wasn’t because I had any inside knowledge and they certainly didn’t deliver the finest performances of the last year, but I knew they would win because Bollywood awards have become that predictable. Even though they acted all surprised at the ceremony in New York last weekend, I am certain both of them knew they would win.

Today, pretty much all Bollywood award ceremonies will give awards to high-profile stars who agree to attend or perform on stage. That is why plenty of great films annually get ignored like Bollywood’s highest grossing movie Dangal, which shamefully didn’t even get a nomination in the major categories at the 18th edition of the international awards. Smaller independent Indian films, which are making a huge mark and showing amazing artistry, were also ignored in favour of lesser movies that featured big name stars.

Diljit Dosanjh won the Best Debut award for his role in Udta Punjab and coincidentally also did a performance on stage. Neerja was decent, but it certainly wasn’t the greatest release of 2016, yet it won the award for Best Film. Anirudh Roy Chaudhary won the Best Director award for Pink, but there were filmmakers who showed far more creative flair in 2016.

Amit Mishra won Best Playback Singer (Male) for Ae Dil Hai Mushkil when Arijit Singh was clearly the stand-out star of that soundtrack. Meanwhile The Best Playback Singer (Female) was jointly shared by Kanika Kapoor for Udta Punjab and Tulsi Kumar for Airlift, but I would wager most Bollywood fans of him can’t name the songs they won for. Then of course a major Bollywood award wouldn’t be complete without a made-up trophy, which went to Alia Bhatt who got a Style Icon Award and a rubbish dance performance by a big star, which this time was delivered by Salman Khan.

Today these award ceremonies pay a handful of A-list stars and pad them out with mostly Z-list celebrities who would happily go to the opening of an envelope if photographers were present. That is why I have chosen to not go to these ceremonies any more, which have become a commercial enterprise and why most of Bollywood stays away from such awards.

Quite frankly. Like most of the Indian film industry, I don’t care where next year’s IIFA awards will be.

alia bhattiifa awardsshahid kapoor

Related News

UK Asian Film Festival 2025 Explores Themes of Longing & Belonging
Entertainment

UK Asian Film Festival celebrates stories of longing and belonging in 27th edition

ve-day-getty
UK

Public invited to attend VE Day 80 procession and flypast

Thudarum Review Round-Up: Mohanlal Delivers a Comeback Masterclass
Entertainment

'Thudarum' review round-up: Mohanlal returns to form in a dark, emotional ride that’s winning hearts

Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem
Sports

Neeraj Chopra rules out Arshad Nadeem’s presence at Bengaluru event

More For You

Gwyneth Paltrow

Paltrow's interest in wellness and food began in part due to her father’s battle with throat cancer

Getty

Gwyneth Paltrow returns to sourdough and pasta after years of ‘hardcore’ diets

Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed that she is returning to eating foods she once restricted, including sourdough bread, pasta, and cheese, after following a strict paleo diet for several years. The Oscar-winning actress, who has become a prominent health and wellness advocate, has been vocal about her diet choices throughout her career, particularly through her lifestyle business, Goop.

In a recent episode of her Goop podcast, Paltrow discussed her food journey and how her eating habits have evolved over the years. She explained that she had previously gone through a "hardcore macrobiotic" phase, describing it as an "interesting chapter" where she became deeply focused on eating extremely healthy foods. This period saw her embracing a diet rich in seasonal and local foods, with an emphasis on fish, vegetables, and rice, while eliminating dairy and sugar.

Keep ReadingShow less
5 Surprising Penguin Facts to Celebrate World Penguin Day

It’s a perfect opportunity to reflect on these fascinating facts about penguins

iStock

Top 5 fascinating facts about penguins on World Penguin Day

As World Penguin Day arrives, it serves as a reminder to celebrate one of nature’s most beloved and unique creatures. Penguins have long captured our imaginations with their tuxedo-like appearance, charming behaviour, and extraordinary ability to thrive in some of the harshest environments on Earth. While these remarkable birds are most closely associated with the icy expanses of Antarctica, their story is far more diverse and fascinating. Here are five fascinating facts about penguins that highlight their resilience, adaptability, and their role in the animal kingdom.

1. Penguins aren’t confined to Antarctica

Although penguins are often linked with the cold and icy landscapes of Antarctica, they are not confined to this frozen continent. In fact, penguins inhabit a wide range of environments across the Southern Hemisphere. While species such as the Emperor and Adélie penguins breed exclusively in Antarctica, other penguin species have adapted to life in warmer climates. For instance, the Galápagos penguin resides on the Galápagos Islands, located just north of the equator, where temperatures are much warmer than those in the icy waters of the South Pole.

Keep ReadingShow less
Harrogate flower show

Organised by the North of England Horticultural Society

Getty

Harrogate to host UK’s largest flower show with 40,000 visitors

An estimated 40,000 visitors are expected to attend the Harrogate Spring Flower Show over the next four days, making it one of the UK’s largest events for horticulture and floral art. The event, which opened today (Thursday 24 April), is being held at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre in Harrogate and runs daily from 9.30 am to 5 pm until Sunday 27 April.

Organised by the North of England Horticultural Society, the Harrogate Spring Flower Show is recognised for hosting the UK’s biggest exhibition of creative floral art. This year’s floral art theme, Swords & Sorcery: Fantasy Heroes, features imaginative displays inspired by fantasy and mythical tales.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asian community

Menopause is a universal transition - one every woman will experience in her lifetime

iStock

Breaking the silence: Why Asian women must talk about menopause

Kiran Singh

For many women in the Asian community, the journey through perimenopause and menopause is still shrouded in silence, confusion, and, at times, shame. It’s often seen as something we just have to “put up with” quietly, as though struggling through it alone is a badge of honour. But the truth is, menopause is a universal transition - one every woman will experience in her lifetime - and it is time we start talking about it, especially within our cultural communities where silence often masks suffering.

We all go through it - so why don’t we talk about it?

Menopause doesn’t arrive overnight. For most women, it begins subtly during perimenopause, which can start as early as your late 30s or early 40s and last for several years. According to the NHS and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), over 30 recognised symptoms of perimenopause range from hot flushes and night sweats to anxiety, low mood, brain fog, and joint pain.

Keep ReadingShow less
How AI and music could transform dementia care for south Asians

AI tunes into dementia needs

How AI and music could transform dementia care for south Asians

THE recent World Health Congress Awards in Mumbai were a revelation. Stepping into that room overlooking the Arabian Sea, I was surrounded by pioneers and individuals shaping the future of healthcare with bold ideas.

Amid the buzz of innovation, one topic resonated deeply: dementia. It was not just the medical complexities, but the human stories, the silent struggles of carers, and the potential for technology to bridge the widening gaps in care.

Keep ReadingShow less
© Copyright 2025 Garavi Gujarat Publications Ltd & Asian Media Group USA Inc