Oscars 2021: Creative Opulence Decoded

The pandemic-hit world order has been confronting unprecedented challenges. Silver screen isn’t any exception. ‘Lights, Camera and Action’ clatter has reverberated film sets world over less than the normal. But Los Angeles’ Union Station in USA dared to dream and laid out the red carpet to host the most awaited and cherished award show of the cinematic world – The Oscars. On 25^th April 2021, 93^rd Academy Award returned with all its opulence to inspire exuberance in a world otherwise tucked behind the screens of pandemic blues.  

Apart from being held at a changed location for the first time in over a decade, the event also went crowdless and hostless this edition. Maskless celebrities did bring glory to glamour but the list of ‘vaccinated’ attendees missed many who skipped the award show due to travel restrictions. Earlier, in a debated move, Academy denied the option of attendance via online media platforms and sent communique to all nominees to attend the ceremony in person.  

The spirit of inclusion in the nominee list was something that had already triggered a buzz. The list had many striking firsts. For the very first time, an all-Black producing team of ‘Judas’ was nominated for best picture, two actors of Asian descent were nominated in best actor category and two women were nominated for best director. 

The list of winners too maintained the spirit of inclusion. Yuh-Jung Youn became the first Korean performer to win Oscar. She won it in the best supporting Actress category, for her role in Lee Isaac Chung’s drama film, Minari.  

Chinese Filmmaker Chloé Zhao, become only the second woman in the history to win the award in the best Director Category for Nomadland, which also secured the laurels in the best Picture category on the decorated night. Frances McDormand too, went on to win her third best actress Oscar in The best Actress category for Nomadland. The desire to see normalcy being restored was visible in her winning speech. McDormand said “One day very, very soon, take everyone you know into a theatre, shoulder to shoulder, in that dark space, and watch every film that’s represented here tonight.” 

In a notable surprise, Anthony Hopkins won Best Actor for The Father over the late Chadwick Boseman, who was on a spree to grab the honours in the category in the current award season for his performance in Black Bottom. 

Ripples of emotion came in for Indian Cinema lovers, through the Memorium segment at the ceremony. Apart from Chadwick Boseman, Cicely Tyson, Sean Connery and others, The Memorium segment at the Academy Awards also paid tribute to Indian Actor Irrfan Khan, and Costume Designer Bhanu Atahiya. Irrfan Khan, who featured in Danny Boyle’s Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire succumbed to a neuro-endocrine tumor in April, 2020. Veteran Costume Designer Bhanu Athaiya, who was the first Indian to win an Oscar for costume design in Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi (1982) died after a prolonged illness in October 2020.  

Here is the list of winners at 93^rd Academy Award 

Story Edited By V Prem Shanker