The pic about a tarnished field hockey player who redeems himself as coach of the Indian women's team, earned kudos for best film, helmer Shimit Amin and lead actor Shah Rukh Khan.It also shared the screenplay award and scooped the story prize. In the technical sections, it picked up an additional two awards.

The only other film that came close to the "Chak De!" total was "Om Shanti Om," a big-budget piece of Bollywood self parody that collected six awards -- four in tech categories, one special award for first-time thesp Deepika Padukone and another for the lyrics to its title song.

Common factor in the two films is Khan, who starred in both and who produced "Om Shanti Om." Ironically, his recently acquired responsibilities as a sports team owner had disrupted his filming schedule and prevented him from attending the awards jamboree in Bangkok.

While the superstar, often dubbed King Khan, was missed, Bollywood's "royal family" Amitabh Bachchan, son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya, were in attendance throughout the three-day IIFA celebrations. So too were the large majority of top names Akshay Kumar (named as superstar of the year by the Tahia hosts), comedian Govinda,Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Vivek Oberoi, Priyanka Chopra, Irrfan Khan, Karan Johar and 2007's outstanding newcomers, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Ranbir Kapoor.

The five-hour kudofest was the final highlight of a weekend of events dotted around the Thai capital that ranged from business seminars, consumer press junketing and a high- powered fashion show with seven Bollywood and Asian designers.

IIFA weekend included world preem of "Sarkar raj," a political thriller, the first film featuring the Bachchans since the marriage of Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan (though it was conceived well before)."Guru," about a self-made businessman, which also stars Rai and Bachchan scored four wins at the ceremony.

Although the evening was chiefly a celebration of contempo mainstream Bollywood, there were lifetime achievement awards for arthouse helmer Shyam Benegal, veteran actress Mumtaz and an international achievement award went to composer A.R. Rahman ("Bombay Dreams," "Lagaan").

Also in attendance on the green carpet -- environmental themes were pushed to the forefront throughout -- were veterans Shabana Azmi, Feroz Khan and execs who included Yash Chopra, Rajesh Sawhney, Amit Khanna and Star TV's Laureen Ong.

The ceremony's bravura scale, color and innovation make the IIFAs one of the most spectacular awards shows on the planet. Between the envelope openings were eight song and dance routines, the appearance of two elephants, a fleet of motorbikes, indoor fireworks and A-listers who descended on stage from gantries and on skateboard.