Bollywood's hall of shame

Desi Razzies

Get set to avenge the brain damage caused by Bollywood films with hackneyed scripts and atrocious performances, for which you wished each paisa spent on the tickets was refunded, as the annual Ghanta Awards are back. Honouring the worst from the film fraternity, the awards etch the ‘hall of shame’ with Bollywood’s popular as well as not so
celebrated names.

“The Ghantas started when some known film critics of Bollywood got together and decided they have to give back to the industry for the torture they go through. They are the ones who suffer the most as they have to watch every good, bad and ugly film. We worked on a concept and it took off as these fun awards,” says Gagan Takyar, managing director of INvision Entertainment Pvt Ltd – who has organised the awards.

He adds that the main idea was to create something like the Razzies (which salutes the worst of Hollywood), where stars come and take their awards and are very upfront and sporting.

“They accept their bad jobs and laugh at it. It’s all done in a very positive manner. I am hoping soon the artistes in Bollywood start coming for their acceptance and laugh with us on the bad decisions they made while selecting a movie,” he tells Metrolife.

The awards, in its sixth edition this year, have nominations like Dilwale, Shandaar, and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo under the category for ‘Worst Film’; Ritesh Deshmukh (Bangistan), Arjun Kapoor (Tevar) and Arjun Rampal (Roy) under the ‘Worst Actor’ category; Ke Dil Kare Chu Cha Chu Cha (Singh is Bliing) and Paani Waala Dance (Kuch Kuch Locha Hai) under the category for ‘Worst Song’; and movies like Mr X, Welcome to Karachi, and Hawaizaada under the category ‘Shit Nobody Saw’.

“There is a team of critics who prepares the list of nominees every year. Post this process we throw open the nominations for voting on our website. This year, the team of critics at Upperstall.com drew the list of nominations which are strictly on the basis of performance. It’s a tedious job to pick the worst from the lot, but someone has to do it,”
says Takyar.

The awards, whose name is an exclamation to express disagreement, disgust or anger, will be hosted by stand-up artistes like Radhika Vaz, Neeti Palta, Sanjay Rajoura and Manan Desai.

Talking about her act, Palta says she looks forward to the awards as she generally does not do Bollywood humour. “Of course, there will be jokes about people from the industry, but they will not be regular ones. Comedy hatke hogi,” she laughs.

So did the hosts watch the movies they will be talking about on stage? “Yes, I actually suffered through them, so whatever will come on stage will be from the heart – direct dil se,” says Palta.

However, Rajoura says that “Bollywood is the most idiotic thing”, and he does not need to watch senseless performances to talk about them.

The Ghanta Awards will be held at the FICCI Auditorium on May 6, and Epicenter, Gurgaon on May 8, 8 pm onwards.