Oscars 2021: Reasons Why The 93rd Academy Award Would Be Etched In History

Oscars 2021 was held today. While for the west, it was a Sunday evening, Indians could only see it on Monday morning. This year's Oscar would anyway be etched in the memory of one and all. The pandemic had caused significant change in the format and for the first time, the Oscars were live-streamed and held at two places- in the traditional Hollywood's Dolby Theatre and simultaneously in LA's Union Station. There were no crowds or hosts- just a simple ceremony. The nominations had also made significant buzz- and it was quite pathbreaking for nomination more than one woman in the best director category, having the first Muslim and Asian American performers nominated, selecting a film with an all-black crew and many more. But it was on the main event that more historic moments had been created.

ouThe first historic moment was when the award for makeup and hairdressing was announced. Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson won the award for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. This was the first time that Black women swept an award in the category, thereby setting an example.

The biggest and the best moment was when Chloé Zhao lifted the Best Director award, becoming the first woman of colour to do so. She also became the second woman in the history of the Academy to get the award in this category after Katheryn Bigelow who won the award in 2010 for directing Hurtlocker. It was known to all though since she had swept all the major awards this year!

And, lastly, Youn Yuh-Jung created history by becoming the first Korean and the second Asian woman to win Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Minari. The first Asian woman to have won the award was Miyoshi Umeki's award for Sayonara, which was 63 years back. What we loved more was her speech!

Riz Ahmed was the first Muslim and Steven Yeun the first Asian American to be nominated for the Best Actor category, though they lost to Anthony Hopkins.