For an industry wrecked by the coronavirus pandemic, Bollywood still had a lot to celebrate on Saturday night as it recognised the best of 2020 at the Filmfare Awards.
The long-running awards show, which was held under strict coronavirus restrictions, was mostly devoid of major stars, thanks to scant film releases in 2020 as cinemas were shuttered, but meant smaller films got much-deserved time in the spotlight.
Thappad, a film about a woman who begins to question her marriage, and her worth, after she's slapped by her husband, was the big winner of the night, taking home seven awards. It won Best Film, Best Actress for Taapsee Pannu and Best Story, among others.
"Thappad keeps leaving memories to cherish," the actress posted on Instagram soon after her win.
Pannu also won the Best Actress award in 2020 for her role in the biopic Saand Ki Aankh.
Another big winner on Saturday night, with six awards, was Gulabo Sitabo, the comedy starring Indian acting heavyweight Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmann Khurrana. Bachchan won Best Actor (Critics), while Farrukh Jaffar won Best Supporting Actress.
There were also colourful entertainment performances, always one of the highlights of the annual show. Superstar Hrithik Roshan danced to some of his biggest hits, as Khurrana performed songs inspired by the festivals of India. The country celebrates the festival of colours, Holi, on Sunday.
Sara Ali Khan, who won Best Debut in 2019, also performed for the first time on the Filmfare Awards stage.
Other performers included Sunny Leone, Nora Fatehi and actor Rajkummar Rao, who also hosted the show.
Actor Irrfan Khan, known for his work in both Bollywood and Hollywood, was also posthumously honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as a Best Actor trophy for his role in the satire Angrezi Medium. Khan, who was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour in 2018, died last year in April.
Actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who died last year in June, was also remembered, as choreographer Farah Khan won Best Choreography for the title song of Dil Bechara, featuring Rajput. Dil Bechara, a remake of the Hollywood film The Fault in Our Stars, was Rajput's last film.
Alaya F, the daughter of actress Pooja Bedi, who starred in Jawaani Jaaneman, won Best Debut. The comedy, also starring Saif Ali Khan, was one of the last big films to release in 2020 before cinemas were shut.
Khan also won for a Best Supporting Actor award for his role in Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, the period epic based on the life of a Maratha warrior. Starring actor Ajay Devgn in the lead, the film was a critical and box office hit, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2020 in India.
Here is the full list of Filmfare Award winners
Best Film: Thappad
Best Director: Om Raut for Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior
Best Film (Critics): Eeb Allay Ooo!
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male): Irrfan Khan in Angrezi Medium
Best Actor (Critics): Amitabh Bachchan in Gulabo Sitabo
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female): Taapsee Pannu in Thappad
Best Actor (Critics): Tillotama Shome in Sir
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male): Saif Ali Khan in Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior
Best Actor in a Supporting Actor Role (Female): Farrukh Jaffar in Gulabo Sitabo
Best Story: Anubhav Sushila Singh and Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul for Thappad
Best Screenplay: Rohena Gera for Sir
Best Dialogue: Juhi Chaturvedi for Gulabo Sitabo
Best Debut Director: Rajesh Krishnan for Lootcase
Best Debut Female: Alaya F in Jawaani Jaaneman
Best Music Album: Pritam for Ludo
Best Lyrics: Gulzar for Chhapaak
Best Playback Singer (Male): Raghav Chaitanya for Ek Tukda Dhoop from Thappad
Best Playback Singer (Female): Asees Kaur for Malang title song
Lifetime Achievement Award: Irrfan Khan
Best Action: Ramazan Bulut, RP Yadav for Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior
Best Background Score: Mangesh Urmila Dhakde for Thappad
Best Cinematography: Abhik Mukhopadhyay for Gulabo Sitabo
Best Choreography: Farah Khan for Dil Bechara title song
Best Costume Design: Veera Kapur Ee for Gulabo Sitabo
Best Editing: Yasha Pushpa Ramchandani for Thappad
Best Production Design: Manasi Dhruv Mehta for Gulabo Sitabo
Best Sound Design: Kaamod Kharade for Thappad
Best VFX: Prasad Sutar, NY Vfxwaala for Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior
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Read more:
Karan Johar launches Shanaya Kapoor in Bollywood debut, sparking nepotism debate again
Bollywood films for 2021: All the titles set to hit cinemas this year
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
EGYPT SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Ahmed El Shennawy, Mohamed El Shennawy, Mohamed Abou-Gabal, Mahmoud Abdel Rehem "Genesh"
Defenders: Ahmed Elmohamady, Ahmed Hegazi, Omar Gaber, Ali Gazal, Ayman Ahsraf, Mahmoud Hamdy, Baher Elmohamady, Ahmed Ayman Mansour, Mahmoud Alaa, Ahmed Abou-Elfotouh
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More on Quran memorisation:
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Director:Michael Lehmann
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About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
UAE's role in anti-extremism recognised
General John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution research group, commended the role the UAE has played in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
He told a Globsec debate of the UAE’s "hugely outsized" role in the fight against Isis.
"It’s trite these days to say that any country punches above its weight, but in every possible way the Emirates did, both militarily, and very importantly, the UAE was extraordinarily helpful on getting to the issue of violent extremism," he said.
He also noted the impact that Hedayah, among others in the UAE, has played in addressing violent extremism.
