(Top) Anil Kapoor presents the award for Best Film Not in the English Language at the Baftas in London and Asif Kapadia who directed the documentary on Ayrton Senna

London, Feb. 13: At the Baftas in London last night, Meryl Streep was named Best Actress for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady and a silent movie, The Artist, swept the board with seven awards.

However, the evening was not without interest for Indians.

It was a night on which the legendary American director Martin Scorsese was honoured with a Bafta Fellowship, while the veteran actor John Hurt was recognised for his “Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema”.

Hurt was in the cast of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, which was named “Outstanding British Film” even though this thriller, based on the novel by John Le Carré, is not always easy to follow.

Batting for Bollywood, Anil Kapoor had his brief moment before the lights in the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, when he presented the award for Best “Film Not In The English Language” to Pedro Almodovar’s The Skin I Live In.

Unfortunately, the Spanish director was not present in person to collect his award due to “work commitments”, but Kapoor promised he would make sure it was delivered safely.

Quite a few Indian TV viewers were puzzled when the roll call of film personalities who passed away in 2011 included Shammi Kapoor but inexplicably left out Dev Anand.

The latter died in London and was no stranger to Bafta where he held an event to mark the publication of his autobiography, Romancing With Life.

More significantly, Senna, directed by Asif Kapadia, born in London of Indian parents, won Best Documentary. Senna also won a Bafta for editing.

Based on the life and death of the Brazilian racing driver, Ayrton Senna, and especially his rivalry with Frenchman Alain Prost, the 106-minute documentary pieced together from 5,000 of hours of film footage confirms Kapadia’s status as one of Britain’s brightest talents.

The award, presented by actor Paul Bettany, was collected by Kapadia, the writer Manish Pandey and members of Working Title, the production house which backed the project.

It is Kapadia’s success with Senna that has made many people wonder whether he shouldn’t have a go at doing something with Sachin Tendulkar as well. It is said that what Tendulkar has been to India, Senna was to Brazil.

Kapadia is understandably a little disappointed that Senna has not figured in the Oscar nominations. This is because Bafta is generally viewed as a pointer to what might happen with the Academy awards in Los Angeles, to be held this year on February 26.

Though the audience in the Royal Opera House saw Anil Kapoor enjoying his moment in the sun, he was not included in BBC TV’s main coverage of the ceremony.

The event was fronted this year by the more cerebral Stephen Fry instead of the cheekie-chappie routine that been normally adopted in previous years by Jonathan Ross.

After the main coverage was over and Fry had bid goodbye to audiences, a series of technical awards categories such as Make Up & Hair, Sound and Costume Design were rushed through at the end. Kapoor’s little appearance was thrown in with his lot.

The most intriguing film this year is The Artist, a French homage to the silent era of Hollywood that ended (as in India) with the arrival of the talkies.

It picked up awards for Best Film, Leading Actor, Best Director, Original Screenplay, Original Music, Cinematography and Costume Design.

Meryl Streep, who had been widely tipped for Best Actress, lost her stiletto walking up the steps on to the stage. Fry had jokingly referred to her as the “Rt Hon Baroness Meryl Thatcher” and “Maggie Thatcher, trophy snatcher” (the Prime Minister had been pilloried in her day for being a “milk snatcher” for removing free milk from schools).

Colin Firth, last year’s Best Actor for The King’s Speech, who was giving Streep her prize, gallantly knelt down and offered her the shoe which fitted perfectly.

“Somebody once said the fate of the well-known is to be misunderstood and the ambition of this film, The Iron Lady, was to look at the life of the Iron Lady from the inside out and to locate something real, maybe hidden, but truthful in the life of someone we've all decided we know everything about already,” said Streep.

John Hurt, hailed as an “actor’s actor”, who received a standing ovation from the audience, has starred in Midnight Express and The Elephant Man.

The night ended with a fulsome tribute to British cinema from Raging Bull director Martin Scorsese who said British films were “a bit of a mystery and a great marvel”.