GUWAHATI, Feb 15 - Fans flew in from different corners of the country and flocked to the helipad ground of Sarusajai Stadium in large numbers where most of Bollywood�s biggest stars assembled for the celebrated awards show � the 65th Filmfare Awards.
The function being held outside Mumbai for the first time got off to a scintillating start around 7:30 in the evening. Officials said the programme was delayed by more than an hour due to flight delays. The 7,000-capacity ground, fortified with a massive security bandobast, was packed with fans eager to witness the glitz and glamour of Bollywood.
The function began with tributes to noted filmmakers from Assam Jyotiprasad Agarwala and Pramathesh Chandra Barua. The inaugural act of the event was a musical tribute to RD Burman by Ranveer Singh. The stage was then set for a spectacular night of glitz, glamour, fashion and of course, the best of Hindi cinema.
Director Zoya Akhtar�s Gully Boy is leading this year�s nominations, with multiple nods, which is followed by Akshay Kumar-Vidya Balan starrer Mission Mangal, Ayushmann Khurrana�s social drama Article 15 and Vicky Kaushal�s war drama Uri: The Surgical Strike.
Vicky Kaushal, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Ayushmann Khurrana, Kartik Aaryan, Varun Dhawan and many others, delivered some top-notch performances.
The event is being hosted by Awesome Assam.
A 12-minute slot was kept for three cultural performances of Assam, during which 115 artistes presented the vibrant culture and dance forms of the State. Choreographed by Sattriya exponent Jatin Goswami, the classical dance form was performed by 35 dancers, whereas a Bihu and a fusion of tribal dances of Assam were designed by Ranjit Gogoi, an acclaimed cultural ambassador of Assam, who has been promoting the Bihu on national and international platforms.
Popular Assamese actresses Gayatri Mahanta and Aimee Baruah were also a part of these performances.
The State tourism department says the award function would reach to two billion people worldwide.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was among the dignitaries who attended the event.
