India, Aug. 3 -- Sometimes, adults behave like children. And once in a while, it's not tragic - just funny. Shah Rukh Khan winning the National Award for Jawan falls squarely into that category: A gold star handed out not for excellence, but for exuberance. This wasn't a performance that demanded a jury's respect. It was a superstar having the time of his life - which, by itself, is award enough.

But here we are. The jury, headed by Ashutosh Gowariker, decided SRK's loud, ludicrous, latex-laden role in Jawan was the best male performance in Indian cinema last year. That this decision will be greeted with raised eyebrows, internet jokes, and late-night WhatsApp conspiracies is a given. The real story, though, lies not in the verdict, but ...