Sony to re-telecast Filmfare Awards

Sony Entertainment has decided to re-telecast the event this Saturday, March 4, from 8 p.m.

The decision has been taken at the highest quarters at Sony Entertainment following the outrage expressed over the bizarre occurrence.

Sony's official spokesperson Anupama Mandloi, however, tones down the purpose of the damage control exercise.

She says: "Of course we have taken the decision to re-telecast the Filmfare Awards because Abhishek Bachchan's performance couldn't be seen by our viewers. But the other performances like Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai were also vital to the shows. And those who missed the earlier telecast would have the chance to catch all the live excitement."

What measures are being taken to ensure that the telecasting fiasco on Saturday doesn't recur?

"We can only do what we have to do. Namely telecast the event. Since we had no hand in the break of signal on Saturday we can only hope it won't happen this time," says Anupama.

Abhishek's father Amitabh had said: "Every time he came on stage the TV went blank saying 'No Signal'. And just as he went off, the telecast returned to normal. It happened twice -- once when he went up to get his award for best supporting actor and then during his live act.

"This happened all over the country. We received complaints about Abhishek's blacked-out presence from Delhi, Chennai, Patna..."

Abhishek had got the Filmfare Award for best supporting actor for "Sarkar" and had performed his hit rap number "Right here right now" from "Bluffmaster". Both could not be seen.