Chak
De
India,
Yash
Raj
Films'
landmark
hit
about
a
group
of
young
girls
forgetting
their
differences
and
carrying
India
to
the
hockey
World
Cup
title
was
honoured
with
the
'Billies',
the
ultimate
accolade
for
depictions
of
women's
sporting
achievement.
Named
after
Billie
Jean
King,
the
tennis
legend
who
defeated
Bobby
Riggs
in
the
"Battle
of
the
Sexes",
the
Billies
were
handed
out
in
four
categories
"Breakthrough&Innovation",
"Entertainment",
"Journalism",
and
"Outstanding
Journalist".
Chak
De
India
was
declared
the
best
in
the
"Entertainment" category
at
a
ceremony
attended
by
sporting
greats
like
Aimee
Mullins
(Track&Field),
Julie
Foudy
(Soccer),
Michelle
Kwan
(Figure
Skating),
Rosie
Casals
(Tennis
Player),
Tony
Gonzalez
(Football),
Tracy
Austin
(Tennis)
and
many
others.
Living
legend
Elton
John
wowed
the
audience
with
his
performance,
including
a
heartful
rendition
of
"Philadelphia
Song",
which
he
had
written
in
honour
of
Billie
Jean
King.
Commented
Yash
Chopra,
Chairman,
Yash
Raj
Films,
"Chak
De
India
continues
to
pay
back
the
faith
we
had
reposed
in
the
movie
even
when
conventional
wisdom
would
have
dictated
otherwise.
To
win
accolades
like
this
from
around
the
world,
especially
from
places
where
depictions
of
women's
sport
has
had
a
long
and
established
tradition
is
especially
heartening.
It
was
an
honour
to
be
selected
by
such
a
distinguished
panel
of
women's
sports
historians,
journalists
and
media
industry
executives.
But
while
we
cherish
this
honour,
the
greatest
reward
for
the
movie
was
undoubtedly
the
love
and
affection
that
was
showered
on
it
by
audiences
worldwide."
Shimit
Amin,
the
director
of
the
movie,
picked
up
the
award
on
behalf
of
Yash
Raj
Films.
He
later
said,
"The
reaction
to
the
movie
was
simply
fantastic.
You
would
not
believe
that
this
was
a
foreign
audience-
comprised
of
professional
writers,
critics
and
industry
professionals
for
the
most
part-
the
way
they
reacted.
It
just
reinforced
our
belief
that
the
message
of
the
movie
and
the
performances
of
Shahrukh
Khan
and
the
girls
cuts
across
all
boundaries."
All
in
all,
India
is
simply
proud
of
both
of
you.
Chak
De
SRK
and
Yash
Raj!
Story first published: Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 16:54 [IST]