WINNERS OF 66^th VIMAL ELAICHI FILMFARE AWARDS 2021

Thappad

The film points out that women have been conditioned for generations so long to support wrong practices for the sake of domestic peace. It makes a case for the fact that even the smallest act of domestic violence is an offense. What you see on screen looks and feels real. The film shakes you up as you realise that patriarchy is indeed deeply ingrained in the very bones of our society.

Eeb Allay Ooo! (Prateek Vats)

The film is an absurd comedy about the plight of migrant workers in metros. It reaches out to the people belonging to the grassroots level and points out that sometimes the fate of such marginalised people is worse than that of the animals. The film is a moving document of human suffering and should be lauded for pushing the envelope when it comes to narrative treatment as well.

Irrfan

Movie - Angrezi Medium

Irrfan Khan, as we know, was undergoing treatment for a near-fatal disease and was in much pain throughout the shooting of the film. So kudos to him for overcoming the odds and giving us another masterful performance. The film proved to be his swan song. Through his courageous efforts, he proved that not even death can dilute the power of a heartfelt performance.

Amitabh Bachchan

Movie - Gulabo Sitabo

The thespian plays an ageing landlord who is always at odds with the people around him. His is an unsatisfied soul who is never at peace. Bachchan is almost hidden under layers of make-up but he doesn’t let that hinder his acting skills and comes up with a command performance once more.

Taapsee Pannu

Movie - Thappad

Taapsee Pannu is growing as an actor with each passing film. Her silences, her body language say it all. She stays within her character throughout and makes you root for her. She makes you experience the world through Amrita's eyes and makes you understand the importance of her fight. It’s another fine portrayal from the actor.

Tillotama Shome

Movie - Sir

Tillotama Shome shines as a maid from rural Maharashtra who sees Mumbai as a chance to begin life anew. The little touches she imparts to her character, the body language, the palpable sense of unease -- you feel as if you’re watching a real maid and not an actor portraying a role.

Om Raut

Movie - Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior

A disclaimer before the beginning of the film states that it doesn't vouch for historical accuracy so don't go into looking for facts here. What director Om Raut has done is to bring the valour of Tanhaji come alive on the silver screen. From an obscure footnote in history, the warrior looks like the stuff of legend as his exploits get recreated on celluloid.

Saif Ali Khan

Movie - Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior

Udaybhan is ruthless and cunning and that's what makes his character more interesting. Saif Ali Khan, who plays Udaybhan, has picked up on the fact and has run with it. One can see he's having a lot of fun playing a slightly unhinged character having a set of quirks. It’s one of the best roles played by Saif in recent years.

Farrokh Jaffar

Movie - Gulabo Sitabo

Farrokh Jaffar has the most delightful role in the film. She plays Amitabh’s wife who is older to him by a decade or so. She holds the purse-strings and as such keeps him under control. Her character hasn’t lost the will to live despite her old age and her survival instincts are sharp as hell. It’s a wonderful performance indeed from the actor.

Pritam

Movie - Ludo

Ludo's soundtrack celebrates life, celebrates love. Pritam has always been known for his melodious output and this album is no exception. He has offered up songs which you can listen to without the reference point of the film. At the same time, they do help in driving the narrative forward. He shares a long relationship with director Anurag Basu and knows what’s expected of him and has delivered more than what was required of him.

Gulzar

Movie - Chhappak

Song - Chhappak

Gulzar is a master of packing a wealth of meaning in a few deft lines. Here too, he talks about how a few drops of acid can have life-changing consequences. The whole philosophy of the film is captured in this thought-provoking song by the master lyricist who seems to be growing better and better as he ages.

Raghav Chaitanya

Movie - Thappad

Song - Ek Tukda Dhoop

Raghav has a unique, soulful voice which brims with technical virtuosity as well. The song is layered with meaning and he makes every nuance come alive through his mellifluous voice. The more one listens to the song, the more one feels enriched.

Asees Kaur

Movie - Malang

Song - Malang

This female version of Malang has a dance-floor feel to it and Asees Kaur has sung it with the verve it requires. It’s a song about being free, being a nomad, roaming wildly without a care in the world and one feels those kinds of vibes while listening to the song.

Priyanka Banerjee

Movie - Devi

Devi is the story of nine oppressed women, from different strata of society, living in a small room, faced with the dilemma of sharing their space and stories in a country all too used to tragedy and pain.

Shivraj Waichal

Movie - Arjun

Arjun is a story of a little blind boy who sees the world‚ through his own vision.This slice of life film is about a simple incident in his life. Arjun is introduced to the art of sketching, rather stencil sketching by his cousin and an artist, Ateesh. Someone who perceives this world through touch, this is another way of seeing the beauty of this world, for Arjun. He wants to give a sketch to his favourite teacher. The story revolves around this beautiful feeling that Arjun experiences while drawing and perceiving things differently.

Cast
Arnav Abdagire
Ashwini Giri
Mahendra Walunj

Nitesh Ramesh Parulekar

Movie - Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary

As name suggests, this short Documentary film is shot in Backyard, showing the nature-diversity found in it. Film starts with the Drawing of a Pre-history couple trying their best to learn farming. In the next painting a present day farmer is shown farming in paddy fields, and new experiments like power tiller trailer. After that it is suggested that Backyard is also a farming experiment done by our ancestors. Camera moves in backyard and vast diversity from butterflies to snakes in shown. Then film moves to birds. All these creatures get water, food, shelter in backyards. Finally the message is conveyed that we should provide safety to all these creatures, as wildlife sanctuaries do.

Purti Savardekar

Movie - The First Wedding

In a world of only same sex couples, a man and a woman fall in love and decide to get married, a first of its kind. Along with an interview about their battles with themselves and the society, we see their life in homemade video footage.

Arnav Abdagire

Movie - Arjun

Arjun is a story of a little blind boy who sees the world‚ through his own vision.This slice of life film is about a simple incident in his life. Arjun is introduced to the art of sketching, rather stencil sketching by his cousin and an artist, Ateesh. Someone who perceives this world through touch, this is another way of seeing the beauty of this world, for Arjun. He wants to give a sketch to his favourite teacher. The story revolves around this beautiful feeling that Arjun experiences while drawing and perceiving things differently.

Cast
Arnav Abdagire
Ashwini Giri
Mahendra Walunj