Pt Bhimsen Joshi, Lata Mangeshkar & Jagjit Singh are winners at IMMIES

In a unique fusion of east and west, the first ever MTV IMMIES or Indian Music Excellence Awards, were presented on December 12, in Mumbai

The show started with the blowing of trumpets and what followed was a riot of colours and yes… music. At the first ever Indian Music Excellence Awards, held under the aegis of MTV and the Indian Music Industry (IMI), on December 12, in Mumbai, the credo was fusion, fusion and more fusion. East met west as Danish percussionists Safri Duo and south Indian temple drummers set the mood with a high-octane performance, followed by fusion acts featuring Bombay Vikings and Falguni Pathak, Euphoria and Junoon, Punjabi MC, Rishi Rich Project and Outlandish.

The star attraction were Irish boy band Westlife, who performed live on stage apart from the Bollywood diva act featuring Isha Koppikar, Yana Gupta and Amrita Arora and Bollywood brat Salman Khan in step with MTV veejays Malaika, Sophia, Ramona and Shenaz, in the concluding song and dance sequence.

Saif Ali Khan and Cyrus Broacha were the hosts for the evening at the event graced by stars such as Jackie Shroff, Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Karan Johar, Preity Zinta, Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan among others.

Sonu Nigam walked away with the IMMIE for the Best Singer Male - Film for the song Saathiya in the movie of the same name. Chitra was the winner in the female category for the movie Koi Mil Gaya while AR Rehman was adjudged the Best Composer for the movie Saathiya and lyricist Gulzar walked away with the trophy for the title song of the same movie.

Shah Rukh Khan and Yana Gupta were winners in the male and female categories for the Best Performance in a Song, the former for his number in the movie Chalte Chalte and the latter for her femme fatale act in Babuji from the movie Dum.

Babuji also got its lead singer, the young Sonu Kakkar, an award for the Best New Film Music Talent while Farah Khan was adjudged the Best Choreographer for Idhar Chala in Koi Mil Gaya and Karan Johar walked away with the trophy for the Best Film Album for Kal Ho Na Ho.

In the pop music category, Adnan Sami's Tera Chera won three awards - Best Male Pop Act, Best Pop Album and Best Video. Falguni Pathak was adjudged the winner in the category of Best Female Pop Act for Yeh Kya Jadoo Kiya, Babul Supriyo for Soochta Hun in Best New Non-film Talent and the Best Remix Video going to Kaanta Laga.

Lata Mangeshkar was given a special Inspiration Award for her contribution to music and playback singing in particular while Pankaj Udhas was the winner in the category of Best Ghazal Album, Jagjit Singh for Best Devotional/Spiritual Album, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi for Best Classical/Classical Fusion Album - Vocal and Rahul Sharma for Best Classical/Classical Fusion Album - Instrumental.

The award for the best detection team went to Ram Kripal Singh, deputy superintendent of police (Retd) and Bindeshwari Singh, senior inspector (Retd) for their efforts in controlling piracy in Patna, Bihar.

Winners of the International awards included Westlife in the category of Best Male Pop Act and Norah Jones for Best Female Pop Act as well as Best Debut. © 2003 agencyfaqs!