Aamir, Shah Rukh, Kajol star in nomination list

Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha. This Kajol-Ajay Devgan love-story, laced with exquisite locations, was lapped up greedily by teenyboppers and adults alike.Satya. Bhikhu Mhatre and Kallu Mama have become cult figures of sorts. A film that will be remembered for a long, long time.

Zakhm. Mahesh Bhatt’s moving statement on the communal question through the story of his own mother.

BEST DIRECTOR: Abbas Mustan. The thriller specialists notched up another success with Soldier.

Karan Johar (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai). His success formula: hard work, conviction and a bundle ofrainbow-coloured dreams.

Mahesh Bhatt. He plans to call it a day with Zakhm. We hope he doesn’t.Ramgopal Varma (Satya). He looked at Mumbai through a critical but touching lens and came up with one of the most humane stories of our times.

Vikram Bhatt (Ghulam). He displayed his hold on the audience-pulse with a thoroughly enjoyable flick.

BEST ACTOR: Aamir Khan (Ghulam). He’s been in the business for over a decade. And girls haven’t stopped swooning. Now we know that apart from being an intense actor, he’s also a promising singer.

Ajay Devgan (Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha). He’s not just a dashing action hero. He looks equally at ease as the shy, soft-spoken romantic.

Ajay Devgan (Zakhm). Yet another facet to his personality. He moves you to tears as the sensitive young musician.

Govinda (Bade Miyan Chote Miyan). They say he’s `Entertainer No 1.’. We second it, and Chote Miyan bears us out.

Shah Rukh Khan (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai). When it comes to sheer energy, he has no rival. A truly admirable act.

BESTACTRESS: Kajol (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai). She is the lovable tomboy. Then she is the impish beauty. You name it, she does it.

Kajol (Dushman). Nerve, grit, stamina and tons of talent. One power-packed performance, this.

Manisha Koirala (Dil Se..). A lesson in the art of understatement. Her face speaks volumes, she hardly utters a word.

Pooja Bhatt (Zakhm). She plays her real-life grandmother. A tough ask, you’d think. A magnificent act, we say.

Rani Mukherjee (Ghulam). She dances to Aamir’s tune, but makes her own ground. Yet another actress of mettle is discovered.

BEST MUSIC: Anu Malik (Soldier). He has everyone dancing to his tune from street-corners to discotheques.

Jatin Lalit (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, Ghulam. Need we say more. They’ve made a habit of coming up with mindboggling music.

A R Rahman (Dil Se..). Talk of versatility, and he has no match. `Chhaiyan, chhaiyan’ isn’t likely to get off our lips for years to come.