Finally, Michelle McNally “came into the light.’’ And boy, the way she did it. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s rousing saga of a deaf, mute and blind girl, Black, swept the coveted Final Four at The Hero Honda 12th Annual Star Screen Awards which will be broadcast on Star Plus at 7 pm tomorrow.The film earned Bhansali and Anshuman Swami the Best Film award. Bhansali also went home with The Best Director trophy. Rani Mukerji was declared Best Actor (Female) and Amitabh Bachchan Best Actor (Male). “Thank you for acknowledging Black,’’ said an emotional Mukerji, who went on to declare, “This one is for Sanjay who is the light in my career.’’ Bhansali felt it was a well-deserved win. “All technicians and actors gave their most inspired effort in this film. When the film gets a standing ovation at every screening across the country, you know something right has happened.’’ Though Bachchan could not attend the award ceremony because of his recent surgery after being diagnosed for diverticulitis, son Abhishek collected the trophy on his behalf. “My father is unwell but this will make him very happy,’’ said A B Jr. Abhishek was right. After the ceremony, when Jaya Bachchan and Abhishek stepped out of their car in their bungalow, Jalsa, they were greeted by Bachchan, strolling in the garden. Clad in a white Pathani suit with a shawl, he embraced Abhishek who handed over the trophy to him. An obviously delighted Bachchan acknowledged the latest honour with his trademark modesty. ‘‘The credit for this goes to my director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, an extraordinary person and an extraordinary filmmaker. He has made a remarkable film and it is my privilege that he cast me in this role.’’ Bachchan rates Black as his most special memory. “It’s special because it explores the anxieties of the older protagonist. We cannot ignore the 60 plus and have to accept that they have a role to play in our society. Hopefully, more films will be made on such subjects that avails opportunity to aging actors like me.’’ Bhansali regards the film as his most fearless attempt. ‘‘After Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas, I had achieved a certain comfort level. But Black was a pure fearless moment of my life,’’ he says. The film-maker doesn’t hide his disappointment that the film was not chosen as India’s official entry to the Oscars. “It hurts because this kind of an experience comes once in a while,’’ he said. He rubbished the claims of the Film Federation of India, that Black’s language—primarily English, went against it. ‘‘The only language in Black is the sign language and that is universal,’’ he said. About the official entry, Paheli, Bhansali said it’s quite good but maybe Black could have also been sent. ‘‘Indian cinema is not just about camels, forts and snakecharmers. The Federation has to realise that sending a film for Oscars is different from a bharat darshan. Paheli is good but they could have sent Black too.’’
