The Thrill Of The 81st Oscars

For the past 3 or 4 years now, I have been ignoring the Oscars. Not really ignoring, just viewing a few minutes, until boredom set in. I and a host of other people, from what I read.

Yesterday's Oscars was somehow different. The old guard was overshadowed by the young brats and beauties. An hour and a half of watching the commentaries and the Red Carpet before the Oscars even started, held me enthralled. The gowns were spectacular. Anne Hathaway looked fresh and innocent with her large doe eyes and her eye pleasing cream colored jewel encrusted gown. So did Amy Adams in her red affair, and her bright visage, a far cry form the shy diffident young nun character she portrayed in Doubt. Penelope Cruz was neither impressive nor plain but my favorite Marisa Tomei was especially radiant in white. Meryl Streep was old guard. Yet she was gracious, smiling and happy. Another far cry from the cold bitchy roles she has had to recently play.

Kate Winslet who won the best actress was somehow disappointing. She continues to have a great personality but getting older, she has lost the winsome appeal she once had in the Titanic. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt looked condescending most of the time. Also wary, as if there was an enemy lurking in every corner and very much on guard. The only time they looked human and vulnerable was when the nominee announcers presented and praised them like every announcer did for their candidate.

It was heart-touching to see tears in the eyes of those young actors, male and female when there was the emotional moment. And of that there were many. One of those bigger moments was when Jerry Lewis the comedian came on stage for his humanitarian award. It brought shiny tears to the faces of both young and old. The famous and not so famous. His-life time monumental work for Muscular Dystrophy for which he has collected 2.5 billion dollars so far, was a beacon of hope in a world of the very sick. Another big emotional moment was when Heath Ledger's parents and sister came on stage to collect his best supporting actor's Oscar. They were sad but accepting. Humble yet standing tall. Definitely a family proud of their late son and brother.

But for all that, it was a night for Danny Boyle, his crew, his team and his movie the Slumdog Millionaire. You don't have to be charitable to say that the night of the 81st Oscars was a night for India on the world's stage. There was a spectacular show on the stage, of A R Rehman's Jai Ho with Indian rhythm, fusion music and heart-racing dance. From the Kerala to the Naga drum beaters, from the floor embracing choreography to the music sung with Rehman joining in, it had Hollywood and the world agog with the 5 minutes that was totally Indian. I could see the attendees registering a look of wonderment and admiration like it was nothing they had seen before.

Dev Patel and Freida Pinto were Oscar stars too. They have been transported to dizzying heights by everyone from the media to the men in the studios that matter, to their actor idols. They had no role and came onstage only with the rest of the group for the Best Picture award, but their presence was underwritten, much like the small print on a doucment that is not much seen but quite important to the overall contract. To Dev and Freida goes as much of the success of Slumdog as everything else. Hope they can handle it. May be Dave can. He is British and seems to be flying in awe but firmly standing on the ground as well. About Freida I have my doubts. For someone from a Bombay suburb to the Oscars is a very big step indeed, but I wish her well.

Praise for the interest generated by the 81st Oscars would not be complete without a strong mention of Hugh Jackman the Australian actor and host. His singing, dancing and awesome personality held the eyes of all women young and old. For the men there was the Beyonce Knowles presence. She is a great singer and dancer and the Arab world with their fondness for plus size must have had their eyes glued to every Mid-East television screen with just a few inches to spare.

The Academy has pulled it off. From a waning, viewer-losing one day a year show, they have made the Oscars resurrect the interest of everyone, everywhere.