On the winning note

Adnan Sami’s ‘Mujhko bhi to lift kara de, bangla, motor-car dila de...’ had the audience clapping and swaying to its beats. What clicked with the crowd in a big way was the dance step of ‘...lift kara de’, and the roly-poly composer shaking his leg

The Screen-Videocon Awards is eagerly awaited by the non-film music industry since it’s the only award (the Zee Sangeet awards came much later) which recognises and honours their efforts. The seventh annual Screen-Videocon Awards was no different, with the non-film music companies excitedly entering their albums, and then waiting to see if they had been nominated.

All the leading music companies, i.e. Tips, T-Series, Magnasound, Sony Music, Virgin Records and Universal Music, had won a nomination each, and all were waiting with bated breath for the big day, January 20, 2000, to discover who the winner would be and who would walk away with the coveted trophy.
On the day of the awards ceremony, the non-film music nominees told us that they were looking forward to the awards and would be there in full force. And they did keep up their word. Alka Yagnik, who was nominated for the Best Female Pop Artist for Dil Le Gaya Ajnabi, walked in with her mother and daughter, followed by Atul Churamani of Virgin Records, who was accompanied by composer Shantanu Moitra of Man Ke Manjeere. Hema Sardesai, resplendent in a bright red and gold brocaded top and lehenga, came in with her hubby.

Piano-wizkid and composer Adnan Sami from Canada, who captivated our hearts this year with his melodious and soulful compositions in Kabhi To Nazar Milao (the album is still topping the charts), was all charged up since his album was nominated in the Best Non-film Album category, and he was also performing at the function.

Shubha Mudgal, one of the nominees, had informed well in advance that she wouldn’t be able to make it to the function since she had a show in Udaipur, and so did Asha Bhosle (nominated for Best Female Pop Artist for Kabhi To Nazar Milao), who was in Dubai. Lucky Ali, a nominee for Best Male Pop Artist for Aks, had flown back home to New Zealand.

We did miss them, but those present more than made up for their absence, with their enthusiasm. The Non-film Music Awards were rightly preceded by Adnan Sami’s act. The roly-poly composer-singer, dressed in black, had the audience spellbound as he sang ‘Kabhi to nazar milao...’ Alka Yagnik was seen smiling approvingly as Adnan’s fingers moved deftly on the piano.

The adorable baby-faced composer-singer then got up to sing and dance to his other song Mujhko bhi to lift kara de, bangla motor-car dila de. The song, with an Afghani rhythm and good beats, had the audience clapping and swaying, with everyone identifying with the words of the song Aise aison ko diya hai, Kaise kaison ko diya hai. And what clicked with the crowd in a big way was the dance step of ‘...lift kara de’, and the chubby composer shaking his leg.

Before the beginning of the song, Adnan had said that everyone prays to God, asking for a ‘lift’ in life, and that he too had prayed that his album win an award.
Well, Adnan didn’t get a ‘lift’ as far as the awards were concerned, with the Best Non-film Album award going to Kaash, but the thundering applause to his performance, which was enjoyed by all, and discussed long after the event was over, must have surely given him a ‘lift’.

Singers Abhijeet, looking dapper in a black suit, and Hema Sardesai, looking very much like a Hindustani Gudiya, presented the Non-film Music Awards. Hema’s enthusiasm was infectious as she goaded the crowd to cheer the winners boisterously, and soon she had the crowd cheering for her.

When the Best Non-film Album award was announced for Kaash, both Shashi Gopal of Magnasound, and Hariharan, the singer of the album, were caught in the traffic snarl just outside the venue of the awards’ ceremony. Hariharan reached minutes after his name was announced as the winner of the Best Male Pop Artist award. Rushing in, the singer dressed in black and sporting his trademark ponytail, exclaimed, "I was stuck in the traffic for two hours," and regretted that he missed his moment of glory on stage. But he did go backstage to collect his trophy, and happily posed with it for our photographer.
Sometime later, he was joined by Shashi Gopal, the Magnasound boss, and both hugged each other warmly and exchanged congratulations on winning the award. "We did it," said a proud and beaming Hariharan to Gopal, who was accompanied by his ravishing wife.

The recently-married Shaan, who had the Best Pop Album nomination and Best Male Pop Artist nomination, both for Tanha Dil, came dressed traditionally in a blue churidar-kurta, with his wife Radhika. Barely had he been seated, when Tanha Dil was announced as the winner of the Best Pop Album. The singer, running his fingers through his wavy hair, showed a thumbs-up sign to Virgin CEO Atul Churamani, and both strode on stage to collect their trophy.
Alka Yagnik was adjudged the Best Female Pop Artist for her album Dil Le Gaya Ajnabi. Hema Sardesai gave a warm hug to her colleague as she presented the trophy to her, while Abhijeet shared a joke. When Hema asked Alka if she wanted to sing or say a few words, Alka flashed a dazzling smile, which said it all.

A visibly thrilled Atul Churamani hopped on to the stage again, this time to take the Best Music Video award. Alongwith him was Sujit Sircar, one of the directors of the video (the other director Gary was in Delhi). As Hema announced ‘Man ke manjeere...’ as the winner, a wild cheer was heard in the crowd, proving that the video, featuring Mita Vashishth, and which has been inspired from a real-life incident of woman truck-driver Shaheen Pathan, was indeed popular and highly appreciated.

Salma Khatib
salmakhatib@hotmail.com
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