It’s a heady mix of excitement and anxiety — the Oscars has been an annual ritual for most of us. In spite of the controversies surrounding this year’s Academy Awards, we are still looking forward to it. The Internet hasn’t let down since the nominees were announced, with various memes and trolls begging — yes, begging — that an award be given to Leonardo Dicaprio. Between guessing what host Chris Rock might say, and whether Jennifer Lawrence will trip again, we talk to celebrities in the city about their favourite nominees.
On her favourite Original soundtrack:
My favourite, hands down, is the original soundtrack by The Weeknd for 50 Shades of Grey. I don’t know how many times I have played Earned It repeatedly on my computer. It’s one of the best songs I have heard. I really cannot wait for Monday morning, so that I can catch the live telecast. Oscar morning is a tradition at home! says Mridhula Sekhar, singer.
On Chris Rock and #OscarsSoWhite:
Personally I prefer the elegant humour of Whoopie Goldberg and Steve Martin, who remain my favourite hosts till date! Of course, with the whole #OscarsSoWhite issue going on, Chris is obviously going to make a few jokes about it. My opinion — wear a thick skin before you watch the show!
About black actors not being nominated this year, I think it is just incidental. Some years we have had fantastic performances by actors like Halle Berry and others, but then there are years where we don’t see any at all. Honestly, I didn’t notice the lack of nominations until people started talking about it. Says Paloma Rao, VJ.
On her favourite Actor and actress:
Of course, like the rest of the world, I want Leo to win! What he did for The Revenant was pretty incredible — and I feel he deserves it more than anyone else. His speech is sure to blow the socks off everyone who is watching. Among the women — only one name comes to mind — Jennifer Lawrence! I can keep watching her for hours together, and every little thing she does captures my fancy. Says Bindhu Madhavi, actress.
Red carpet trends: Vivek Karunakaran, Fashion designer:
The Oscars are always something you look forward to and I am expecting to see some good designs on the red carpet. Currently, cleaner looks are in vogue, but that’s really up to the designers and celebrities. This is one opportunity for them to stand out, and personally, I don’t have any favourites — I am going to keep watching for someone to shock me. The point is to look out for new people, as the red carpet is one way to be unforgettable in the public’s eyes. Whether they are risk-takers or playing safe, the celebrities on the red carpet are inspirational, and have even inspired my current collection.
Best Director and Best Picture categories: Sruti Harihara Subramaniam, filmmaker:
It’s a tough choice between The Revenant, Mad Max: Fury Road and Bridge of Spies. The last one especially is my favourite — for the fact that it was pure cinema and is a kind of film we haven’t seen in a while. No gimmicks, no major makeup; simple yet effective storytelling. For Bridge of Spies, I would root more for the director than for the picture, compared to Revenant or Mad Max. I am definitely not going to miss the live telecast.
