Fashion, films, music and glamour came together on the sidelines of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards at the IIFA Rocks event on Friday. As Bollywood siren Bipasha Basu summed it up nicely: "You can't take the music out of the Indians. There's music in our films, there has to be music in our fashion too."
Perhaps this is what led her to walk the ramp wearing celebrated Indian couturier Sabyasachi and dancing to the hits of Shankar Ehsaan Loy.
"I love Sabyasachi's clothes, and his sensibilities match mine," said Basu, as she twirled around on the green carpet. "And what's not to love about Shankar Ehsaan Loy?"
It also spelt a triumphant return for Dabangg sensation Sonakshi Sinha, who was literally unknown when she promoted the film at last year's awards ceremony in Sri Lanka. Wearing a short Alexander McQueen dress, Sinha said she was still reeling from all the affection she was receiving from her fans in Toronto. "This is my first time that I have been nominated in IIFAs. The feeling was wonderful, especially when people started chanting Tere Mast Mast Nain," said Sinha.
But she wasn't in the modern avatar for too long. An effective show-stopper for designer Vikram Phadnis, Sinha returned to her familiar on-screen role wearing a rich ethnic ensemble.
Meanwhile, the technical aspects of filmmaking were also celebrated as Robot, Dabangg and Band Baaja Baarat won the maximum number of awards in different categories. Each won three awards. While Band Baaja Baaraat won for Editing (Namrata Rao), Song Recording, Ainvayi Ainvayi (Vijay Dayal) and Costume Design (Niharika Khan), the Rajnikanth-starrer Robot walked away with Best Art Director for Sabu Cyril. Actor Shah Rukh Khan presented the trophy to Cyril and lauded him for his ace work. Robot also won awards for Special Effects by Indian Artists and for Best Make-Up.
The Salman Khan-starrer Dabangg also filled its already burgeoning trophy cabinet by taking home the award for Best Choreography, Munni Badnaam Hui choreographed by Farah Khan, and a gong for Best song recording for Leslie Fernandez.
The film also won the award for Best Action by S. Vijayan.
Meanwhile, the green carpet saw the likes of Anil Kapoor, Sonu Sood, Dia Mirza and Madhavan adding star wattage to the evening.
