When I was just 21, I won a major award for editing Satya, Ramgopal Varma's acclaimed film on the underworld. I was thrilled to walk up to the stage, but upon getting my statuette, I was disappointed as they didn't allow me to make the acceptance speech that I had prepared.

That privilege was sadly not extended to technicians. Fifteen years later, when I won an award for the screenplay of Shahid, I realised that scenario hasn't changed much. Though Shah Rukh Khan, the presenter that night, encouraged me to say a few words, it was edited out of the telecast!

The technical awards then are like a fast-cut montage of hurriedly called names and fleeting glimpses of 'simple people' walking off stage. The juicier telecast space is awarded to actors and their performances, costumes and speeches.