‘OPPENHEIMER’ triumphs with seven honours

The 96th Academy Awards was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel for the fourth time and brought back several past winners to hand out awards in their respective categories

The 96th Academy Awards, also known as the 2024 Oscars, were held in Los Angeles on Monday morning (India time), with Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ winning in seven categories. The biographical thriller led with 13 nominations, followed by the dark comedy ‘Poor Things’, which earned 11 nods and won four Oscars. Fan favourites Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr won their first Oscars, while Nolan won his first-ever directing award.

The grand ceremony was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel for the fourth time and brought back several past winners to hand out awards in their respective categories.

An action sequence from SS Rajamouli’s ‘RRR’ made an appearance at the ceremony in a montage celebrating the contribution of the stunt community towards international cinema.

Oscar nominees Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt presented the 1.15-minute showreel at the grand event. “They have been such a crucial part of our industry since the beginning of cinema. To the stunt performers and stunt coordinators who help make movies magic, we salute you,” Gosling said.

Blunt added, “They are truly the unsung heroes who risk life and limb for cinema.”

The video clip of last year’s best original song winner, ‘Naatu Naatu’ from ‘RRR’ also played out at the event as ‘Wicked’ co-stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo took the stage to announce the new winner.

Renowned production director Nitin Desai, who created sets for blockbuster movies such as the Oscar-nominated ‘Lagaan’ and ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’, was among the film personalities who were honoured in the ‘In Memoriam’ segment at the event. Desai, 57, was found hanging at his studio in Karjat, near Mumbai, on August 2, 2023. He was also known for his artwork in films such as ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ and ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’ as well as the popular TV quiz show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’. The ‘In Memoriam’ segment opened with a tribute to Alexei Navalny, Russia’s opposition leader, who died last month.

Italian music icon Andrea Bocelli performed a new version of his signature single ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ with his son Matteo

Bocelli for the segment.

During the live telecast, the Oscars also honoured actors Carl Weathers, Lee Sun-Kyun, Matthew Perry, Glenda Jackson, Ryan O’Neal, Michael Gambon, Julian Sands, singer Tina Turner, Harry Belafonte, Robbie Robertson, comedian Richard Lewis and others.

The

Oscars also honoured actors Carl Weathers, Lee Sun-Kyun, Matthew Perry and many others