IIFA Awards 2011 held from June 23-25, 2011, was indeed special because not only it had Bollywood glitterati also but even a couple of Hollywood stars joined in to watch the performances and awards. Hollywood stars like Hillary Swank and Cuba Gooding Jr. were full of praises for Indian cinema. Canadian actor Tom Greene and Australian cricketer Brett Lee were also present.
Hillary, the Oscar winning actress charmed the crowd with a sweet sounding ‘Namastey’ and said, “I think Indian cinema and Hollywood will bring people together. Bollywood has been bringing two worlds together. It’s a great thing. I believe in the motto of one world, one people. India has always held a very special place in my heart.” She went on to present the Best Actor Award to SRK for My Name is Khan. Meanwhile Cuba Gooding Jr. expressed his desire to do a role in a Bollywood film. “I am bowled over today with the power of Indian films across the globe. I would love to do a role in a Bollywood film myself, and maybe dance a little,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dabangg got the maximum awards, seven in all, for various categories, including The Best Film. Let us look at the winners list for the 12th IIFA (International Indian Film Academy Awards) 2011:
Best Film: Dabangg
Performance In A Leading Role Male: Shah Rukh Khan – My Name Is Khan
Performance In A Leading Role Female: Anushka Sharma – Band Baaja Baaraat
Best Director: Karan Johar – My Name Is Khan
Best Actor In A Comic Role: Riteish Deshmukh – Housefull
Best Performance In A Supporting Role Male: Arjun Rampal – Raajneeti
Best Performance In A Supporting Role Female: Prachi Desai – Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai
Best Performance In A Negative Role: Sonu Sood – Dabangg
Achievement In International Cinema: Irrfan Khan
Best Debut Female: Sonakshi Sinha – Dabangg
Best Debut Male: Ranveer Singh – Band Baaja Baaraat
Hottest Pair 2011: Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh
Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema: Sharmila Tagore
Best Screenplay Award: Abhinav Kashyap, Dilip Shukla – Dabangg
Best Playback Singer – Female: Mamta Sharma – ‘Munni Badnaam Hui’ – (Dabangg)
Best Playback Song: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan – ‘Tere Mast Mast Do Nain’ – (Dabangg)
Best Music Direction: Sajid- Wajid, Lalit Pandit – Dabangg
Best Lyrics: Niranjan Iyengar – ‘Sajda’ and ‘Noor- e- Khuda’ – (My Name Is Khan)
Best Story Award: Shivani Bhatija – My Name Is Khan
Best Costume Designing: Niharika Khan – Band Baaja Baaraat
Best Action: S Vijayan – Dabangg
Best Makeup: Banu – Rajinikanth in Robot
Best Background Score: Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy – My Name Is Khan
Best Song Recording: Vijay Dayal for ‘Ainvayi Ainvayi’ – (Band Baaja Baaraat)
Best Choreography Award: Farah Khan – ‘Munni Badnaam’ – (Dabangg)
Best Editing: Namrata Rao – Band Baaja Baaraat
Best Sound Recording: Pritam Das – Love, Sex Aur Dhokha
Best Sound Re- recording: Leslie Fernandes – Dabangg
Best Cinematography: Sudeep Chatterjee – Guzaarish
Best Art Direction: Sabu Cyril – Robot
Best Special Effects: Indian Artists – Robot