The Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences (AMPAS) on Monday paid tributes to Indian stars Shashi Kapoor and Sridevi, along with a host of Hollywood actors, including Roger Moore, John Heard, Sam Shepard and Jerry Lewis, in the In Memoriam section of the Oscars.
The In Memoriam segment of the annual Academy Awards remembers artistes who died in the past one year.
Kapoor was primarily known as the charming, classic actor in Bollywood for his roles in the ‘70s and ‘80s commercial films such as “Deewar”, “Kabhie Kabhie”, “Namak Halal” and “Kaala Patthar”.
The veteran actor, who died on December 4 last year at the age of 79, was, however, one of the few crossover stars who went on to play a proactive role in presenting India on the world map through Ivory-Merchant productions such as “The Householder”, “Shakespeare Wallah”, “The Guru”, “Bombay Talkie” and “In Custody” (Muhafiz).
Kapoor, along with his wife, actor Jennifer, revived his father actor Prithviraj Kapoor’s Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai in 1978. In the same year, he set up his production house, Film Valas, which produced acclaimed projects such as “Junoon”, “Kalyug”, “36 Chowringhee Lane”, “Vijeta” and “Utsav”. Sridevi, inarguably India’s first female superstar, was also remembered at the 2018 Oscars.
The actor, whose sudden death at the age of 54 on February 24 in Dubai sent shock waves around the world, was a rare artiste whose career spanned for 50 years across multiple languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Malayalam.
Sridevi ruled the commercial cinema space in the ‘80s and ‘90s like no heroine had done before and was a force to reckon with both in terms of her craft and box office appeal.
Bill Paxton, who passed away on January 25 last year due to stroke following a heart surgery for aortic aneurysm repair, was not mentioned in the homage section.
He had died last year a day before the Oscars ceremony. Though his picture did not feature in the montage, Jennifer Aniston did pay homage to him while introducing the segment.
Eddie Vedder - Oscar 2018 Performance (In Memoriam Segment)Eddie Vedder - Oscar 2018 Performance (In Memoriam Segment)
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Fans, however, were expecting the Academy to feature his picture this year but he was left out, leading social media users to criticise the Academy for ignoring the “Aliens” actor yet again.
“Why is Bill Paxton not in memoriam? #Oscars #oscars2018,” a Twitter user wrote.
“So Bill Paxton wasn’t added last minute last year and then wasn’t added at all this year? #oscars #Oscars2018,” wrote another one.
Actor Mary Goldberg, Icelandic composer Johan Johansson, Don Rickles, Harry Dean Stanton, Chuck Berry and Idrissa Oeudraogo, were among the artistes who were remembered for their contribution across spheres of acting, music, editing, cinematography, etc.
Actor Jennifer Garner introduced the segment this year.
Quoting Audrey Hepburn, she underscored the importance of remembering losses in times of celebration.
“Every storyteller knows that there is no joy without sorrow. Tonight, as we celebrate the achievements of our collaborators, we also mourn the loss of those who brought joy and awareness through their passion for the movies.
“The work they left us, as Academy Award winner Audrey Hepburn said so beautifully, ‘Gives pleasure, creates beauty, awakens our conscience, arouses our compassion, and perhaps most importantly, gives millions a moment of respite in our violent world’,” Garner said.
The actor then, invited singer Eddie Vedder, who honoured singer-songwriter Tom Petty with a performance of “Room at the Top” as the montage played in the background.
But fans pointed out on Twitter that Petty’s photograph was missing from the video.
Check out some heartfelt reactions here.
So amazing to see the #oscars pay respect to #shashikapoor and #sridevi #Oscar90
— Varun Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) March 5, 2018
Sridevi and Shashi Kapoor in Oscars Memoriam. What true great stars we have lost. #oscars90
— arjun rampal (@rampalarjun) March 5, 2018
The Oscars honor our very own Sridevi ji and Shashi Kapoor ji in their In memorium section! They must be smiling from the heavens ❤️
— Milap (@zmilap) March 5, 2018
Proud and teary eyed moment for us all to see a tribute being paid to #Sridevi & #ShashiKapoor at the #Oscars pic.twitter.com/p2uB7PZJyn
— kunal kohli (@kunalkohli) March 5, 2018
Sridevi and Shashi Kapoor remembered at the #Oscars. An important nod to reach of Indian cinema. pic.twitter.com/RlnLp1QKUq
— Dr. Karan Jani (@AstroKPJ) March 5, 2018
Thank you #Oscars for paying tribute to #Sridevi & #ShashiKapoor tonight amongst the many incredible global artists we lost this in the last year🙏🏼💔#Oscars2018
— Sophie Choudry (@Sophie_Choudry) March 5, 2018
So emotional! I still cannot believe that #Sridevi is gone. pic.twitter.com/DkMXUvWe3c
— DANIEL PILLAI (@Daniel_Pillai) March 5, 2018
Teary eyed to see #Sridevi being featured in the Oscars IN MEMORIUM.. ♥️
— Farah Khan (@TheFarahKhan) March 5, 2018
Heartwarming gesture by the @TheAcademy to honor our legends Late #Sridevi Ji & #SashiKapoor in the Memoriam section of #Oscars90 pic.twitter.com/qCkrqAOgGr
— Sumit kadel (@SumitkadeI) March 5, 2018
The Oscars honor our very own Sridevi ji and Shashi Kapoor ji in their In memorium section! They must be smiling from the heavens ❤️
— Milap (@zmilap) March 5, 2018
Sridevi on #Oscars In Memoriam might have been the best gift that The Academy could’ve given all of us. Thank you @TheAcademy #sridevi forever
— Prabal Gurung (@prabalgurung) March 5, 2018
She never did a Hollywood flick. But Hollywood could have not overlooked what she did in the movies! She was udoutedbly one of the best ever. @SrideviBKapoor #Sridevi #Oscars
— Noyon Jyoti Parasara (@NoyonSENSE) March 5, 2018
Wow! The #InMemoriam section of the #Oscars both had Sridevi and Shashi Kapoor! Two of India’s finest actors :( both gone within a year.. glad that they were featured in this esteemed list pic.twitter.com/ojRoF5U3YV
— Aadit Kapadia (@ask0704) March 5, 2018
They included Sridevi and Shashi Kapoor in the In Memoriam tribute and I didn't see it coming and now I'm tearing up a bit #oscars
— Preeti Chhibber (@runwithskizzers) March 5, 2018
Holy what, they got Sridevi in the in memoriam? She died like three days ago? AND Shashi Kapoor? I'm flabbergasted. Hollywood remembered bollywood is a thing.
— Shivam Bhatt (@elektrotal) March 5, 2018
Call me a sentimental fool if you will, but I always wait for the #Oscars In Memoriam section. I knew #ShashiKapoor would be remembered at today's ceremony because he has worked abroad, but they also honoured #Sridevi today and that meant a lot. A big hug to @TheAcademy.
— Anna MM Vetticad (@annavetticad) March 5, 2018
Sridevi in the In Memorandum is having as powerful an effect on me as AR Rahman's & more so Carnatic powerhouse Bombay Jayashri's past oscar noms. Makes me feel like a lil Tamil girl who sings alternative classical music has a shot at being part of the #oscars crowd one day.
— Shami Sivasubramanian (@Shami_Siva) March 5, 2018
Following is a list of winners in key categories
Best Picture: "The Shape of Water"
Best Actor: Gary Oldman - "Darkest Hour"
Best Actress: Frances McDormand - "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro - "The Shape of Water" Best Supporting Actor
Sam Rockwell: "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" Best Supporting Actress
Allison Janney : "I, Tonya"
Best Original Screenplay: "Get Out"
Best Adapted Screenplay: "Call Me By Your Name"
Best Animated Film: "Coco"
Best Documentary Film: "Icarus"
Best Foreign Language Film: "A Fantastic Woman" - Chile
Original Song: "Remember Me" - Coco
