Celebrations, Telly Awards style!

The Technical, Trade and Programming Nite of the Indian Telly Awards 2004 was a spectacular precursor to the Popular Nite that follows on 19 November It was a dazzling night, alright! On screen stars mingled with off screen talent at the Ball Room of the ITC Grand Maratha in Mumbai on Tuesday evening, to fete the achievements of those whose work behind the scenes often goes unrecognised. The Trade, Technical and Programming Nite of the Indian Telly Awards 2004 filled that need and in the process, even established a closer bond between artistes and the technical professionals who help polish their on-screen aura. Veteran actress Poonam Dhillion recalled with fondness Preeti Dayal's attachment to her scripting work, as she handed Preeti the trophy for the best screenplay writing for Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin. The two ladies have acted together in Zee's Kittie Party last year. Channel [V] veejay Gaurav Kapoor who co-hosted the show, sparkled with wit and the strikingly dressed Sonali Varma (seen otherwise as NDTV anchor) inducted the necessary sobriety in the well attended function. TV producers, channel executives, technicians and artistes from all over India converged at the venue on Tuesday evening, catching up with old acquaintances from the industry and posing for the paparazzi that followed them at every turn. Intermingled with the 62 awards that were given away (a precursor to the Popular Nite of the Indian Telly Awards that are to be held on 19 November) were an array of sizzling performances - by TV star Nigar Khan, singer Shivani Kashyap and Jaspreet Kaur (the latest entrant in K Street Pali Hill). The act that brought on the most applause however was that of Jimmy Moses, the stand up comedian, who did a hilarious take on current TV shows. Among the awards, Star Plus' Khichdi beat last time winner, Sab TV's Office Office to win in the best sitcom category. Star Plus' Shararat was adjudged the best show in the kids' programming category. NDTV walked away with the honours as the best news channel of the year, and HBO took home the award for the best English movie channel, while Zee Cinema bagged the best Hindi movie channel of the year award. NDTV's The Big Fight, hosted by Rajdeep Sardesai, won in the best talk show category. Sony's CID was adjudged the thriller programme of the year. MTV won an award for the packaging of the show Graveyard Shift. Channel [V] did well in the promo category, winning awards for its shows Santa Banta Christmas and Popstars II. CNBC picked up three awards. Its show Indian Business Hour received a special commendation. Trial by Fire meanwhile was adjudged the best game show. UTV's show Back To The Floor for BBC World won the award for best business programme of the year. ESPN Star Sports' Harsha Unplugged was adjudged the best sports programme of the year. Miditech's Operation Hot Pursuit for National Geographic won in the non fiction programme category. Among the stars present on the occasion were current television hearthrob Rajeev Khandelwal, the cosy twosome Rajeev and Delnaz Paul, the spunky Urvashi Dholakia, veteran actresses Poonam Dhillon and Padmini Kolhapure, among others.