The grand awards ceremony in Ahmedabad, which celebrated the best of Hindi cinema, got off to a turbulent start. The opening segment featured a spectacular drone light show—a growing trend at major events—designed to pay tribute to Bollywood stars and showcase the iconic Filmfare statuette.
However, as the dazzling aerial display concluded, a technical snag caused one of the synchronized drones to fall from the sky and land in the audience section, striking a female attendee. While the injury was reported as minor, the sudden accident sparked a wave of panic that lasted for an uneasy 10 to 15 minutes before the situation was brought under control and the show continued seamlessly.
The AI-Age Risk: A Global Concern
The malfunction mirrors an even more dramatic drone disaster that recently occurred in China. On October 2, a large-scale fireworks and drone show in Liuyang, Hunan Province, spiraled out of control during National Day celebrations. Hundreds of synchronized drones malfunctioned shortly after takeoff, with some catching fire and raining debris onto spectators who were seen fleeing and shielding themselves from the falling, burning fragments.
While authorities in China reported no injuries from that incident, which echoed a similar failure in Quanzhou the previous year, the repeated mishaps have sparked a global conversation about the necessity of stronger regulations, technological safeguards, and public safety management for large-scale, high-tech performances in the era of the 5th Industrial Revolution. As AI and automated technology rapidly evolve, the nature of risks at mass gatherings is fundamentally changing.
Winners Take Centre Stage
Despite the initial scare, the evening proceeded to honour the year’s finest performances and films. Director Kiran Rao’s highly acclaimed Laapataa Ladies emerged as the undisputed champion, taking home a historic 13 trophies, including the coveted Best Film award.
The top acting honours were split: Alia Bhatt was crowned Best Actress for her performance in Jigra. The Best Actor award saw a rare tie, with Abhishek Bachchan (I Want To Talk) and Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion) sharing the coveted title. The night also paid tribute to cinematic legends, with the Lifetime Achievement Award being presented to veteran actor Zeenat Aman and posthumously to filmmaker Shyam Benegal.