Hindi
‘Queen’ & ‘Haider’ dominate IIFA Awards; Subhash Ghai gets special award
NEW DELHI: The Kangana Ranaut-starrer Queen and Shahid Kapoor-starrer Haider, both of which had won National Awards for 2014, dominated the awards at the glittering finale of the 16th India International Film Academy (IIFA) Awards in Malaysia. Videocon
Queen bagged awards for best film, best performance by Ranaut, and best story by Vikas Bahl, Chaitally Parmar & Parvez Shaikh.Haider was a winner for best performance by Kapoor, best performance for a negative role for Kay Kay Menon, and best supporting actress Tabu.
Heropanti, which introduced Jackie Shroff’s son Tiger Shroff won two awards: one for best male debut by the junior Shroff and the best debut female for Kirti Sanon.
Another film, which won two awards was Ek Villain: for the song ‘Galliyan’ by Ankit Tiwari and for male supporting actor Riteish Deshmukh.
Umang Kumar won the best direction for Mary Kom though many had hoped lead Priyanka Chopra may win the best actress award.
Contrary to expectations, Aamir Khan’s PK won just one award: for its director Rajkumar Hirani.
The other winners were: Best debut direction: Sajid Nadiadwsla for Kick; Best music direction: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy for 2 States; Best playback singer- female: Kanika Kapoor for Baby Doll (Ragini MMS2); Best performance in a comic role: Varun Dhavan forMain Tera Hero; and Best regional film: Lai Bhaari.
Eminent film-maker Subhash Ghai was awarded for his Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema. “So many emotions I am going through, so many memories. That is why you fall, then rise, then rise again. Thank you, IIFA,” he said.
Deepika Padukone won an award for IIFA Woman of the Year and Ranveer Singh recited a poem for her.
The S Cross IIFA Awards was held at the Stadium Putra in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For the first time ever, Bollywood’s hilarious duo- the talented actors Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor played host to the awards ceremony. The twosome won over audiences and industry members alike, leaving those present in splits with their witty quips, perfect comic timing and laudable on-stage camaraderie.
Their opening performance was a medley of iconic Jodi songs – Mein Khiladi Tu Anaari, Dola Re Dola, Mere Do Anmol Ratan where the two donned outlandish costumes keeping the audience in tears of laughter. They were joined on stage by Rakhi Sawant, who took the entertainment quotient to another level.
Bollywood’s ace dancers Hrithik Roshan and Shahid Kapoor stunned audiences with their performances and dance moves. More highlights of the night were Sonakshi Sinha, who who stole the show with her singing act, Parineeti Chopra’s mesmerising performance on Pareshaan, Baby Doll, Lovely and Drama Queen and Shraddha Kapoor’s act on Khalnayak Hu Mein, Choli Ke Piche Kya Hai and Om Shanti Om – a tribute to Subhash Ghai. Anushka Sharma gave a spell-binding performance on songs from her film Bombay Velvet.
For the first time, S Cross IIFA Awards will be broadcast globally on Colors.
Hindi
UFO Cine Media Network unveils ‘India’s biggest cinema moment ever’
Dhurandhar 2 and Toxic tipped to deliver rare pan-India scale for brands
MUMBAI: UFO Cine Media Network is pitching an upcoming dual-film release weekend as what it calls the largest advertising opportunity cinema has offered in India, banking on an estimated 100 million cumulative footfalls nationwide.
The initiative, branded “India’s Biggest Cinema Moment Ever”, is anchored around the simultaneous release of Dhurandhar 2 – The Revenge and Toxic, two high-profile action films expected to dominate screens across regions and languages. Trade projections, supported by cinema measurement tool Procat, suggest the combined lifetime theatrical run could deliver one of the widest audience concentrations seen in recent years.
Dhurandhar 2 – The Revenge, an India–Pakistan spy thriller, is set to release in five languages, broadening its appeal across northern and southern markets. The franchise has already built a sizable multilingual following through theatrical runs and streaming platforms. Toxic, fronted by pan-India star Yash, is expected to draw heavy footfalls across southern circuits and beyond, buoyed by the actor’s proven box-office pull.
UFO, which operates an in-cinema advertising network spanning more than 4,100 theatres, is positioning the release window as a rare moment of synchronised national attention. Its footprint covers multiplexes and single screens across over 1,500 towns and cities, allowing advertisers to deploy campaigns at scale during a single weekend.
Executives at the company argue that cinema’s value lies not just in reach but in attention. Unlike digital or television, audiences are captive, emotionally engaged and free from distraction, they say, translating into stronger recall and measurable returns for brands. With advertisers increasingly focused on performance-led media planning, UFO is framing the dual release as comparable in scale to India’s largest broadcast and sporting properties.
Industry observers note that as theatrical exhibition expands deeper into Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets, such tentpole weekends are becoming anchor moments for annual media strategies. If Dhurandhar 2 – The Revenge and Toxic deliver as expected, the weekend could set new benchmarks not only for box office numbers, but also for cinema’s evolving role as a high-attention advertising medium.
