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Saturday, 14 January 2017

HIndie Awards 2017: Best Makeup and Hairstyling




Best Makeup and Hairstyling




This is another new award added to the season, one which I am not so good at judging; so forgive me.

There isn't much to say here, except hair and makeup is important to give us a visual sense of character even in the simplest of touches.

A prime example of this, is one of the Best Picture nominees; Waiting.

While an absolutely astounding film and deserving of its nomination, considering the situation of the character and the sober surroundings and cast; it is a bit distracting to see Kalki Koechlin's character so dolled up as she is especially when is comes to her makeup and even perfectly touched up hair especially the condition her character is in.

This might seem like a small issue and doesn't overall affect the film or her performance, but it is a point of contention as to why makeup and hairstyling are important in character building situations as they are in making glamorous cinema.

So onto the nominees...





Sailesh Pawar and Namrata Soni for Neerja

A couple year back the Mary Kom biopic received immense flak for its casting of Punjabi bred Priyanka Chopra in the role of the titular Manipuri Boxer. It of course didn't help that neither makeup department nor the director deemed it necessary to make her look more like Mary Kom, instead in a candid forum with us students at film school; director Omung Kumar mentioned adding freckles to Chopra's look simply because he wanted to, a very distracting and silly unnecessary aesthetical choice.

Thank god that despite all this Priyanka Chopra pulled of a stirring performance.

Neerja can be accused of this as well, it takes a difficult amount to realize that Sonam Kapoor barely if at all looks like the real life Neerja Bhanot; however it is the make up and hair department that does its absolute best in crafting this illusion.

From the very short and simple haircut to the class make up, capturing a likeness that wasn't there a minute ago. This is ably captured in the other air hostesses who look absolutely professional as should be, adding a nice contrast to the kohl eyed frazzled scruffiness of lead villain Khalil.




Vikram Gaikwad, Jogender Gupta, Nanao Soyam and Avan Contractor for Dangal

It's not that Aamir Khan putting weight wasn't enough, yet the magic of his aged looks and weighty demeanour especially in tune [as best as can be] with Mahavir Singh Phogat is all thanks to the support of the hair and makeup team.

There is also a distinctive sense to break and mold the performers and make their outlook feel authentically rustic, more importantly matching the young versions to the old.

One of the highlights of this is in the Babita Kumar wrestles montage [sadly she don't have many] where as she celebrates a victory, Sanya Malhotra's chopped locks and damp make up remind you of a similar victory shot of the real Babita, despite their physical appearance being far off.

It's all brought together with dexterity to give us that fighting feel.



 

Milind Chavan and Amina for Aligarh

The credit given of hair and make up in Aligarh must be immense despite the absolute subtlety of it.

As is with Manoj Bajpayee's nuanced take, the make up adds layers to it of world weariness that echoes the stark loneliness and pain within Professor Siras.

In this case Aligarh forces itself not to bring the actors look closer to his real life counterpart but rather characteristically work out the internal strife into the external; with patches of grey hair strewn around the head and a focus on lines and harshness in the make up that symbolize the age of pain catching up.




Rajendra Sharma for Tere Bin Laden: Dead or Alive

Had the HIndie awards existed when the original film came out, then this award would have been guaranteed in its kitty.

The simple fact being at how cleverly the films makeup and effects department manages to turn Pradhuman Singh into the dreadful Osama Bin Laden, without never losing the subtle dopiness that comes with the clone character/actor.

This year, besides that miracle their efforts shine in bringing forth probably the most authentic looking Obama to match Osama, while absolutely killing it with the crazy looks for Sikander Kher's dual role as the American David Dosomething and the Punjabi David Chaddha.

The manner with which the department operates in creating the look for this character[s] allows the actor to absolutely sink into and become the role, a rare feat accomplished in a comedy.




Praveen Kumar and Gurpratap Singh for Udta Punjab

There was equal measure of controversy when Alia Bhatt was cast in the role of a Bihari migrant, yet she managed to kill it. Some credit falls here as she absolutely looked the part and her dusky skin and roughly matted hair created a striking balance against other persons; enough to give her the outsider feel.

At the same time the authentic Punjabi look seemed to gleam of Dosanjh and Kareena Kapoor as should be. Not to mention the peripheral characters fitting in.

The highlight?

One Shahid Kapoor who absolutely gave off the vibe of a manic and lost rockstar with the blue streak and the horrific way it was worn on screen.

It immersed us into the world, its reality and made us feel its harsh realities.



And the Winner is...




Sailesh Pawar and Namrata Soni for Neerja!!!


There it is, Neerja one of the best films of the year and the sixth best drama...missed out on a film nomination slightly, scores one consolation win

Up Next: What to wear, what not to wear...costume design!!!


'Nuff Said,

Aneesh Raikundalia

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