The Screen Awards have set stage for history over the years

In its second year with theatre person Alyque Padamsee heading the event, a near theatrical was guaranteed. Screen siren Urmila Matondkar arrived at the unusual venue, the Juhu Flying Club, aboard a glider plane. Artist MF Husain dramatically painted his muse, Madhuri Dixit, live on stage. And lastly keeping the audience gripped, Hollywood’s man of steel, Steven Seagal, received a warm welcome with confetti showers.

Fast forward to the 4th year, which was dedicated to comedy with an army of Bollywood’s most-loved comedians gathering on stage, including Mehmood who came despite his respirator in tow. The night also saw the esteemed Ramnath Goenka Memorial Award bestowed on Dilip Kumar, by BR Chopra, with a citation by Rekha.

Over the years, the Screen Awards have only gotten bigger. In the 5th year, the jury comprised an illustrious set of invitees, from the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences, Hollywood. It wad also the year that Ajay Devgan and his wife Kajol, left the stage hand-in-hand, with their statuettes for Best Actor, Zakham and Best Actress, Dushman.

At the 6th awards ceremony, Sanjay Dutt bagged his first award as Best Actor for his memorable performance in the movie Vaastav, that too after almost two decades of making movies.

Another unexpected award was that for Best Lyricist for the movie Nayi Disha, awarded to former prime minister and poet Atal Behari Vajpayee.

When the 7th ceremony was held, it was also time to celebrate 50 years of Screen. However, the real fireworks went off in the Roshan camp, as Rakesh Roshan bagged awards for Best Film and Best Director, with Kaho Na Pyar Hai.

No awards function is complete without its set of bloopers. At the 8th annual awards, Saif Ali Khan, got stuck in a hydraulic that was to pump him on to stage; however this did not stop him from dazzling the audience with his performance.

It seemed like déjà vu at the 10th Screen Awards as the Roshans ruled the roost once again. Hrithik Roshan picked up the Best Actor award for Koi Mil Gaya, while his father bagged Best Director and Best Film awards. Emerging from exile, Mumtaz presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Rajesh Khanna.

On a sombre note, the 11th Screen Awards featured a song composed for the tsunami victims, with 18 singers on stage paying their tribute. In its 12th year of running, the ceremony was aptly dedicated to Mumbai, the city of dreams. It was a night where Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black ruled supreme, bagging a total of 10 awards.

And as we look forward to the 13th annual Star Screen Awards on January 6, it is certain that some more memories will be made.