Mahershala Ali is first ever Muslim actor to win an Academy Award

[Gabbar Singh]

Mahershala Ali has won Best Supporting Actor at this year's Oscars ceremony for his role in Barry Jenkins' acclaimed drama Moonlight.

The actor beat out the likes of Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals), Jeff Bridges (Hell or High Water), Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea) and BAFTA winner Dev Patel (Lion) to take the trophy for one of the most hotly contested categories of the evening.

Coming-of-age drama Moonlight follows protagonist Chiron through three stages of his life; Ali plays Juan, a crack dealer who takes Chiron under his wing to protect him from the emotional abuse dealt out by his mother (Naomie Harris).

The actor, who became a father just last week, was handed the award by last year's Supporting Actress Winner Alicia Vikander. Following a standing ovation from spectators, Ali gave an emotional speech in which he praised the film which was a breakout hit following its debut at last year's festival season.

“I had so many wonderful teachers [growing up], and one thing that they consistently told me was it wasn’t about you, it’s not about you. It’s about these characters. You’re in service to these stories and these characters. And I’m so blessed to have had an opportunity [to do that].”

Ali also stars in Best Picture nominee Hidden Figures.

Link


An excellent actor - it's nice that he's finally being recognised.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

He deserved it but his movie did not deserve best picture. Don't get me wrong it was good but they only gave it to it because it was about black people. There were at least 3 movies which were much better

 

[shaz619]

He deserved it but his movie did not deserve best picture. Don't get me wrong it was good but they only gave it to it because it was about black people. There were at least 3 movies which were much better

I don't know about the "black part" that movie was rated very very highly critically, plus it was nominated for an oscar so ought to have been considered for best picuture. You're just upset your beloved la la land never won so mention race but bae Emma Stone still won so stop whinging!

 

[shaz619]

Congrats to Ali! He is a fantastic actor, know him from House of Cards and Luke Cage [MENTION=137142]JaDed[/MENTION]

 

[shaz619]

[MENTION=7898]Gabbar Singh[/MENTION] I never knew he was a muslim, surprised

 

[JaDed]

Congrats to Ali! He is a fantastic actor, know him from House of Cards and Luke Cage [MENTION=137142]JaDed[/MENTION]

Terrific actor him and idris elba are probably my fav black actors currently.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

I don't know about the "black part" that movie was rated very very highly critically, plus it was nominated for an oscar so ought to have been considered for best picuture. You're just upset your beloved la la land never won so mention race but bae Emma Stone still won so stop whinging!

Manchester by the sea and hacksaw ridge were both better movies. Have you seen it or are you just basing it off the fact that it was rated very highly critically? I loved it but 3 movies were just better. Hacksaw ridge wasn't as perfect as this or Manchester by the sea but it was easily the most entertaining movie of the year. Silence was actually my favourite film of 2016 and not la la land.

 

[shaz619]

Manchester by the sea and hacksaw ridge were both better movies. Have you seen it or are you just basing it off the fact that it was rated very highly critically? I loved it but 3 movies were just better. Hacksaw ridge wasn't as perfect as this or Manchester by the sea but it was easily the most entertaining movie of the year. Silence was actually my favourite film of 2016 and not la la land.

You tend to use them as a gauge am sure you have mentioned it before, metacritic 99% rating. Generally they are on point or else suicide squad would have got a higher rating. However everything is subjective and folk tend to have genre biases.

 

[CricketCartoons]

This honour should have gone to Shahrukh Khan or even Amir, but I guess Shahrukh is not interested in Hollywood.

 

[SandyB]

This honour should have gone to Shahrukh Khan or even Amir, but I guess Shahrukh is not interested in Hollywood.

Seriously.. What have these guys done to deserve an oscar. ? Especially SRK. ??

If you're looking at great Indian Muslim actors worthy of it then there's :

Nasserudhin Shah
Dilip Kumar
Irrfan
Nawasuddhin Siddiqui

All of them have tremendous talent and have an incredible body of work. Irffan or Nawaz could still do it though..

 

[CricketCartoons]

Seriously.. What have these guys done to deserve an oscar. ? Especially SRK. ??

If you're looking at great Indian Muslim actors worthy of it then there's :

Nasserudhin Shah
Dilip Kumar
Irrfan
Nawasuddhin Siddiqui

All of them have tremendous talent and have an incredible body of work. Irffan or Nawaz could still do it though..

Lol at Irrfan and Nawazuddin..one dimensional actors playing cliched roles, but lapped up by the pseudo intellectual bollywood fans who think they are watching serious cinema just because the actors in those movies are not good looking.

But I am digressing. I don't know much about world cinema, but among the muslim actors I think there is no one better than Shahrukh King Badshah Legend Khan.

 

[troodon]

Lol at Irrfan and Nawazuddin..one dimensional actors playing cliched roles, but lapped up by the pseudo intellectual bollywood fans who think they are watching serious cinema just because the actors in those movies are not good looking.

But I am digressing. I don't know much about world cinema, but among the muslim actors I think there is no one better than Shahrukh King Badshah Legend Khan.

So you think Irfan and Nazwazuddin are one dimensional? Perhaps they get the same kinds of roles. These guys are much better actors than SRK and Salman could ever be.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

So you think Irfan and Nazwazuddin are one dimensional? Perhaps they get the same kinds of roles. These guys are much better actors than SRK and Salman could ever be.

Stop taking him so seriously, look through his other posts - he's trolling.

 

[Adil_94]

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/trib...s-oscar-win-stirs-controversy-pakistan/?amp=1

some funny bit of satire.

 

[Dios]

Haven't seen Moonlight yet but Mahershala Ali was really good in his role as Remy Danton in the House of Cards. He was one of the best actors in a show with amazing performers all-round. Ever since the storyline got into the implausible territory in the last season I only really watched it for the acting.

 

[shaz619]

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/trib...s-oscar-win-stirs-controversy-pakistan/?amp=1

some funny bit of satire.

Reminds me of the bear saying RIP to all the Pakistanis who thought Naseem Hamed was a Pakistani ) But I guess they still supported him emphatically, I don't think there was anyone who didn't to be fair lol the GOAT from Britain

How are you finding him in Luke Cage, you finished the show.

 

[jwizle]

Just so people know, he is an Ahmadi Muslim. I know him well and he is a very active Ahmadi Muslim here in LA

 

[Adil_94]

[MENTION=46929]shaz619[/MENTION] i finished the show found him to be an excellent character just wish he had more appearances

 

[Tera Gawaandi]

Pakistan's UN Envoy Deletes Tweet Praising Mahershala Ali's Oscar Win

Islamabad: Pakistan's envoy to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi came under fire back home for congratulating Mahershala Ali, who became the first Muslim to win the best supporting actor Oscar.

Maleeha faces the backlash for promoting Ali, an Ahmadi, who are considered non-Muslims in Pakistan.

She later deleted her tweet as a response to all the criticism.

Article 260-3 of Pakistan's Constitution declares Ahmadis "non-Muslims".

Ali played the role of a drug dealer Juan in oscar winning "Moonlight", who takes care of Chiron as he struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in Miami.

Source

 

[JaDed]

Haven't seen Moonlight yet but Mahershala Ali was really good in his role as Remy Danton in the House of Cards. He was one of the best actors in a show with amazing performers all-round. Ever since the storyline got into the implausible territory in the last season I only really watched it for the acting.

Then check out Luke Cage as well.

 

[moghul]

Pakistan's UN Envoy Deletes Tweet Praising Mahershala Ali's Oscar Win




Source

This news about Maliha Lodhi tweeting him and then deleting is true, I saw this on CNN, by Anderson Cooper today.

 

[msb314]

Mahershala Ali has won Best Supporting Actor at this year's Oscars ceremony for his role in Barry Jenkins' acclaimed drama Moonlight.

The actor beat out the likes of Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals), Jeff Bridges (Hell or High Water), Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea) and BAFTA winner Dev Patel (Lion) to take the trophy for one of the most hotly contested categories of the evening.

Coming-of-age drama Moonlight follows protagonist Chiron through three stages of his life; Ali plays Juan, a crack dealer who takes Chiron under his wing to protect him from the emotional abuse dealt out by his mother (Naomie Harris).

The actor, who became a father just last week, was handed the award by last year's Supporting Actress Winner Alicia Vikander. Following a standing ovation from spectators, Ali gave an emotional speech in which he praised the film which was a breakout hit following its debut at last year's festival season.

“I had so many wonderful teachers [growing up], and one thing that they consistently told me was it wasn’t about you, it’s not about you. It’s about these characters. You’re in service to these stories and these characters. And I’m so blessed to have had an opportunity [to do that].”

Ali also stars in Best Picture nominee Hidden Figures.

Link


An excellent actor - it's nice that he's finally being recognised.

I remember his as Remy from House of Cards!

Did a great job!

 

[TM Riddle]

I think he's a good actor.Just like others mentioned,he did a fine job in house of cards and if I'm not wrong had a brief cameo in a curious case of Benjamin button too.Yet to watch this new movie of his though.Have you seen it [MENTION=46929]shaz619[/MENTION], thoughts?

 

[confused_amoeba]

Have not seen "Moonlight" but can't help label this win as another very obvious and lame attempt by the Academy to wipe the "Oscars so white" label that got slapped onto them by none other than super rich and famous Hollywood fraternity couple Jade and Will Smith.

Art cannot be democratic, art cannot be diverse just for the sake of diversity. Art has to be treated for its merits and aesthetics. Oscars only nominate and award films that are voted by a large number of academy members. If in a certain year there are no big black movies or great performances by black actors than why should they be recognized.

Its almost a strange kind of fascism in my opinion and snow flakes and so called race warriors lap up these superficial and ridiculous accusations which fits in nicely in their victim obsessed world view. If anything, black movies and black actors get special attention and are rewarded much more generously than white actors. "Moonlight" is another example of it.

 

[JaDed]

[MENTION=139638]confused_amoeba[/MENTION] oscars is too white even for me personally, Lala land was easily the whitest movie and it kept winning all awards,the issue is academy Is political if not genuine awards for black actors or atleast nominations would be given example idris elba for beats of no nation but they dont even get nominated at times.

Slum dog millionaire as a token got 8 oscars mind you and the director acknowledged that the story was inspired from the hindi film deewar.

Oscars might be Democratic but they are not diverse,and yesterday was a last straw and a shambolic presentation,heard in the memorandum section they mistakenly put an alive woman (not sure).

 

[confused_amoeba]

[MENTION=139638]confused_amoeba[/MENTION] oscars is too white even for me personally, Lala land was easily the whitest movie and it kept winning all awards,the issue is academy Is political if not genuine awards for black actors or atleast nominations would be given example idris elba for beats of no nation but they dont even get nominated at times.

Slum dog millionaire as a token got 8 oscars mind you and the director acknowledged that the story was inspired from the hindi film deewar.

Oscars might be Democratic but they are not diverse,and yesterday was a last straw and a shambolic presentation,heard in the memorandum section they mistakenly put an alive woman (not sure).

Why do we have to look at entertainment and art through the lenses of color or race or gender. Art is art. "La la land" may be whiter than a gathering of Klan members but if that was the vision of the movie writer and director, which they thought would best tell the story, than that is it. Just to add diversity for the sake of it kills everything. As for "Beast of no nation", Idris Alba is a good actor but that was performance was not worth it. Yes, if that movie was being considered for this years Oscars, he would have probably won the whole thing because of the controversy from last year.

 

[JaDed]

Why do we have to look at entertainment and art through the lenses of color or race or gender. Art is art. "La la land" may be whiter than a gathering of Klan members but if that was the vision of the movie writer and director, which they thought would best tell the story, than that is it. Just to add diversity for the sake of it kills everything. As for "Beast of no nation", Idris Alba is a good actor but that was performance was not worth it. Yes, if that movie was being considered for this years Oscars, he would have probably won the whole thing because of the controversy from last year.

Its not about looking at arts through the lens of color but the awards being given for the same, no one is saying that they have to give the awards based on controversies but no way is academy void of politics esp American or liberal agenda.

Its about the awards here one can like lala land,moonlight, lion the issue are the awards given and the basis for same.

 

[DW44]

Haven't seen the movie but I doubt it could ever hold a candle, in terms of sheer entertainment value, to the ongoing debate surrounding Mahershala on Pakistani social media.

 

[dhump]

Haven't seen the movie but I doubt it could ever hold a candle, in terms of sheer entertainment value, to the ongoing debate surrounding Mahershala on Pakistani social media.

Exactly it is quite funny .... few patriots even declared him Pakistani dont care about religion as long as he is Pakistan

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

Congratulations to him, was very sad when he died in between Luke Cage series around 6th episode.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Just so people know, he is an Ahmadi Muslim. I know him well and he is a very active Ahmadi Muslim here in LA

An Oscar, an AlaisAllah Ring ! The later much more appealing to me !
Congrats to Ali Bhaee.



[MENTION=2016]Rana[/MENTION] [MENTION=90074]PennOne[/MENTION] [MENTION=38994]dhump[/MENTION] [MENTION=10684]its.raja[/MENTION] [MENTION=257]lahori@denmark[/MENTION] [MENTION=13411]RehanG[/MENTION]

 

[confused_amoeba]

Pakistan's envoy to the UN Maleeha Lodhi initially acknowledged the first Oscar win by a Muslim actor replying to a tweet "That's a first", but later on that tweet was deleted when they found out that he is an Ahmadi. What hypocrisy. First you claim the victory as one by your own which is pretty lame in the first place and when it turns out he is not from your preferred sect than dump the whole thing. Pakistan....when will you learn.

 

[kingusama92]

Good actor in House of Cards.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">And with that, Mahershala Ali becomes the second black actor to have won multiple <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Oscars?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Oscars</a> -<br> The first is Denzel Washington. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Oscars2019?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Oscars2019</a> live coverage and reaction <a href="https://t.co/wBklwHrvkq">https://t.co/wBklwHrvkq</a><br><br>Winners list in full: <a href="https://t.co/EVFzj8SK7N">https://t.co/EVFzj8SK7N</a> <a href="https://t.co/5K0rUb6lpu">pic.twitter.com/5K0rUb6lpu</a></p>— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCWorld/status/1099858798351736832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mahershala Ali just joined an exclusive group of actors to win multiple <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Oscars?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Oscars</a> in the span of a few years <a href="https://t.co/cLTUY7at3L">https://t.co/cLTUY7at3L</a></p>— TIME (@TIME) <a href="https://twitter.com/TIME/status/1099874129052950528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[PakLFC]

He is Ahmadiyya or Qadyani not a Muslim.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Never heard of him before his stint on True Detective, but he's great in that.

 

[Adijazz1706]

He ain't Muslim, @Mods please change the title, thank you

 

[troodon]

He ain't Muslim, @Mods please change the title, thank you

Hi name sounds Muslim. Plus Ahmedis consider themselves to be Muslims.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Hi name sounds Muslim. Plus Ahmedis consider themselves to be Muslims.

Muslim consensus is they're not as deviate from the very basic principle that makes a Muslim - the oneness of the Creator and Prophet Muhammad (SAW) being the final prophet.

 

[Robert]

His second Oscar.

He is tremendous in True Detective.

 

[ElRaja]

great actor.

 

[shaz619]

His second Oscar.

He is tremendous in True Detective.

I haven't watched TD since season 1, is it as good the new season ?

 

[shaz619]

Ali plays a lead role in Alita: Battle Angel to and did an amazing job, fantastic actor and I loved him as cotton mouth especially in Luke Cage

 

[ElRaja]

I haven't watched TD since season 1, is it as good the new season ?

not as good as 1, not as bad as 2. its a bit slow, but the acting is good in it.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

Congratulations to him.

 

[Chrish]

Love his acting in True Detective.. One of the most brilliant guys out there.

 

[BobbySharma]

Pakistan's envoy to the UN Maleeha Lodhi initially acknowledged the first Oscar win by a Muslim actor replying to a tweet "That's a first", but later on that tweet was deleted when they found out that he is an Ahmadi. What hypocrisy. First you claim the victory as one by your own which is pretty lame in the first place and when it turns out he is not from your preferred sect than dump the whole thing. Pakistan....when will you learn.

Why did she tweet in the first place? Does Ali have Pakistani heritage or connection?

 

[Robert]

I haven't watched TD since season 1, is it as good the new season ?

Season 1 is still best, season 3 a close second, season 2 third but still gripping in places.

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

He is great actor, still can't forget how brilliantly he acted in first 6 episode of Luke cage.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

He is great actor, still can't forget how brilliantly he acted in first 6 episode of Luke cage.

I've only ever seen him in that and he played the role of Cottonmouth brilliantly.