Epic historical drama Lagaan was the big winner at the third annual InternationalIndian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards at a glitzy ceremony held in Malaysia onSaturday night. Ashutosh Kovariker's film, which was nominated for a foreignlanguage film Oscar recently, won ten trophies including best film, bestdirector and best actor (Aamir Khan) as well as a special honor from theAcademy for its achievement in gaining international recognition. Khan, who wasalso the producer of Lagaan, wasa no-show at the ceremony held at the Genting Highlands resort outside KualaLumpur.

The IIFA Awards, which aresponsored by Electrolux Kelvinator, take place every year in a location outsideIndia in order to raise the profile of "Bollywood" cinema outside thecountry. The main categories are voted on by the public after industry membershave nominated five to a shortlist in each category.

Box office blockbuster KhabieKhushi Khabi Gham - or K3G as it is popularly known - won a total of eightawards but mainly in technical categories, with only the supporting actress andmale playback singer awards of the popular categories.

The IIFAs have risen quicklyto prestige in the Indian industry, vying for pre-eminence with the NationalAwards or the Filmfare Awards held in February. Lagaan was also the big winner at the Filmfare Awards,taking the picture, director and actor awards, although Kajol won the bestactress trophy for K3G.

Bollywood has gained groundin the last year in achieving international recognition. Hindi-speaking audiencesin North America and the UK made themselves heard by taking K3G into the topten of both countries' box office charts. As well as the Oscar nomination andnumerous western festival appearances for Lagaan, hit US musical Moulin Rouge openly paid homage to the "masala" filmsof Bollywood with their blend of styles, high drama, song and dance, while MiraNair's personal love letter to Bollywood Monsoon Wedding won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival andis still playing in US theatres through USA Films.

FULL LIST OF IIFA AWARDWINNERS

Best picture Lagaan

Best director AshutoshGowariker Lagaan

Best actor in a leading roleAamir Khan Lagaan

Best actress in a leadingrole Tabu Chandni Bar

Best actor in a supportingrole Saif Ali Khan Dil Chahta Hai

Best actress in a supportingrole Jaya Bachchan Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham

Best performance in a comicrole Govinda Jodi No. 1

Best performance in anegative role Akshay Kumar Ajnabee

Best male playback singerSonu Nigam (You Are My Soniya) Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham

Best female playback singerAsha Bhosle (Radha Kaise Na Jale) Lagaan

Best story AshutoshGowariker Lagaan

Best music direction: ARRehman Lagaan

Best lyrics Javed Akhtar Lagaan

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED WINNERS

Best choreography: FarahKhan for Dil Chahta Hai

Best sound recording: (tied)Anui Mathur for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham & Nakul Kamte for Lagaan

Best makeup: MickeyContractor for Kabhi Khushi Khabhie Gham

Best cinematography: SantoshSivan for Asoka

Best screenplay: FarhanAkhtar for Dil Chahta Hai

Best dialogue: (tied) KaranJohar for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham& Shaktiman for Gadar - Ek Prem Katha

Best editing: Ballu Salujafor Lagaan

Best art direction:Sharmishta Roy for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

Best action: Tinu Verma for Gadar- Ek Prem Katha

Best song recording: VijayBenegal for Dil Chahta Hai

Best sound re-recording: HSridhar for Lagaan

Best special visual effects:Paul Sims for Aks - The Reflection

Best background score:Babloo Chakravarthy for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

Best costume design: ManishMalhotra for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

SPECIAL AWARDS

Personality of the year:Amitabh Bachchan