The 2015 International Indian Film Academy Awards are just around the corner. Here's our take on who SHOULD win, and who WILL win. What are your choices?
If the Filmfares are considered the Oscars, then you can always count on the IIFAs as the flashier Golden Globes, with even better reaction shots from the audience and awkward banter with the requisite Hollywood celebrity. It's also one of the award ceremonies we love for holding onto the Best Villain and Best Comedian categories. So with that enthusiasm, we present our wish list of winners on the big night. Be sure to get your ballots ready and see if we called some of the winners this weekend!
Queen
Haider
2 States
PK
Highway
Mary Kom
Should Win: Since Queen emerged as the breakout hit of 2014 and winner at the Filmfares, we've got high hopes that it will pull off another victory at the IIFAs.
Will Win: In case Queen's players don't show up to the ceremony, we have a feeling this award might go to Haider for being one of the best Hamlet adaptation's we've ever seen.
Kangana Ranaut — Queen
Alia Bhatt — 2 States
Deepika Padukone — Happy New Year
Rani Mukherji — Mardaani
Anushka Sharma — PK
Priyanka Chopra — Mary Kom
Should Win: We'd love it if Kangana made a rare awards show appearance and shocked the audience with dramatic close-ups from Deepika or a bemused Alia. Or they could give the award to Rani Mukherji for smashing the patriarchy in her excellent role in Mardaani.
Will Win: Since Kangana shuns most award ceremonies, it's a free-for all for this category. But do expect one of the winners to say "Oh, my gosh! This simply doesn't belong to me. This is Kangana's all the way!" — starting another snark fest in the press.
Aamir Khan — PK
Arjun Kapoor — 2 States
Hrithik Roshan — Bang Bang
Randeep Hooda — Highway
Shah Rukh Khan — Happy New Year
Shahid Kapoor — Haider
Should Win & Will Win: Our money is on Shahid Kapoor to snag this award for his terrific performance in Haider, but we do wonder whether host Arjun Kapoor could pull a surprise win and collect his award midway through some bromantic banter with Ranveer Singh.
Best Supporting Actor Nominations:
Inaamulhaq — Filmistaan
Kay Kay Menon — Haider
Ronit Roy — 2 States
Randeep Hooda — Kick
Riteish Deshmukh — Ek Villain
Naseeruddin Shah — Finding Fanny
Should Win: Either way, Kay Kay Menon and Riteish Deshmukh will go home winners after being nominated in this serious category and the Best Villain award, but we're angling for Kay Kay to take home this one.
Will Win: However, there's lots of goodwill for Ronit Roy playing another drunken father in 2 States. Maybe this one will make up for his Udaan losses.
Best Supporting Actress Nominations:
Juhi Chawla — Gulaab Gang
Tabu — Haider
Huma Qureshi — Dedh Ishqiya
Lisa Haydon — Queen
Amrita Singh — 2 States
Should Win: While we know Tabu should win and likely will win for her version of a Mommie Dearest, we absolutely loved Juhi Chawla terrorizing Madhuri Dixit and chewing paan like a seasoned villain. Who else looked that badass with a bluetooth and grey teeth?
Will Win: Tabu was unbelievably good in Haider, especially taking the filmi mother to the extreme and still imbuing such Shakespearean gravitas to the Gertrude role.
Nawaz delivering a zinger (Bollyspice)
Nawazuddin Siddiqui — Kick
Kay Kay Menon — Haider
Ritesh Deshmukh — Ek Villain
Should Win: Initially, seeing Nawazuddin in a Salman Khan film had us heralding the second coming. But who would've thought that Nawazuddin would work his magic with such silly throwaway zingers and the best cackle of the movie? While Nawaz won't at the IIFAs, we've got a soft spot for him since he's the only one able to sass and class up a Salman joint.
Will Win: Ritesh Deshmukh should take this IIFA award as a reminder of what a brilliant talent he is when he steps away from dreck like Humshakals. Whether it was chatting to his victims or outclassing a growling Siddharth Malhotra, Deshmukh was a sterling villain, and we hope he takes more roles like these in the future!
Best Comedian Nominations:
Sanjay Dutt — PK
Govinda — Happy Ending
Sharib Hashmi — Filmistaan
Varun Dhawan
Should Win: In a perfect world, all Govinda's roles would showcase his dry wit and cheeky self-awareness like Happy Ending did, but this year he was caught as the saving grace of this movie and Kill Dil. For rescuing these films with his impeccable comic timing, our money is on Chichi!
Will Win: As a gesture of support and "we still love incarcerated heroes" sentiment, we predict Sanjay Dutt will win this award and deliver a teary thank you message from Yerwada Jail, with appropriate teary reaction shots from the young 'uns and his contemporaries.
Best Music Nominations:
2 States
Yaariyan
Haider
Ek Villain
Should Win: While Vishal Bharadwaj won for best background score in the technical awards, we hope the IIFA jury is generous enough to give him this prize for this eloquent and vibrant soundtrack.
Will Win: If you're tired of hearing "Galliyan" or the soft-rock jangles, then you're out of luck, as we think Ek Villain might secure a win here — though we wouldn't mind an upset from Yaariyan, if only to see the shock of Yo Yo Honey Singh collecting an award for "ABCD" and "Sunny Sunny."
Well, those were our picks for the IIFAs this year. Be sure to check whether our wild predictions were right or very wrong!
Photo Credits:
Featured Image: Facebook – IIFA Awards
Indian Express, Aaya Mazaa, Bollyspice
Rumnique Nannar
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Rumnique Nannar is a new journalist with a passion for all things pop culture, film, and art. Rumnique was born in London, with a predilection for devouring English chocolate with her Vogue, ANOKHI, and Glamour magazines in tow. She is currently in her Journalism Masters at UBC. Connect ...