Rockstars at Mirchi Awards

The most happening names in the Indian music industry made this an unforgettable night Rekha wouldn’t have been Rekha if not for Khayyam’s Umrao Jaan. No, it was not her fans saying this, but Rekha herself, at the Royal Stag Mirchi Music Awards, while she honoured Khayyam saab with the Lifetime Achievement Award for music. The most prestigious music awards in the country saw leading music directors, lyricists and singers come together on Wednesday night. The night was peppered with emotions — some that made us laugh and some that brought tears. The hosts for the evening, Shaan and the inimitable Usha Uthup, brought the house down with their witty one-liners. When Uthup stepped on the stage dressed as the Brazilian character Luscious Lopez and later, as Mantri Padmanabhan Iyer, few could recognise her! Dhanush, who received a special award for enrapturing the world with Kolaveri Di, was pleasantly surprised when Uthup herself got him on stage. Now, that was a moment music fans won’t forget in a long time! Little Nevaan (Sonu Nigam’s son) was seen humming along sitting on his mother’s lap, when Dhanush sang the song on stage. It was also Rockstar’s night as it swept the highest number of awards, prompting Mohit Chauhan to call AR Rahman the biggest rockstar he’s ever met. Kashi’s Pandit Chhannulal Mishra was recognised specially for his foray into Bollywood. The classical singer went on to enthrall the audience with a speech on the finer nuances of music, prompting Shaan to call it a ‘crash course in Indian classical music’. The Best Item Number award couldn’t have gone to a more deserving candidate — Ooh la la from The Dirty Picture — and from a more deserving person — Rakhi Sawant, who looked red hot in a stylish gown. And since this was a night to honour the best in music, Sonu Nigam paid a beautiful tribute to Bollywood legends whose loss has created a void difficult to fill in the film industry — Pandit Bhimsen Joshi (Desh raag), Navin Nischol (Tum jo mil gaye ho), MF Husain (Yeh rishta kya kehlata hai), Bhupen Hazarika (Dil hoom hoom kare), Ustad Sultan Khan (Albela sajan), Ravi (Ae meri zohra jabeen), Jagjit Singh (Tum itna jo), Joy Mukherjee (Le gayi dil), Dev Anand (Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya) and Shammi Kapoor (Tumne mujhe dekha). Mirchi music awards 2011Best album of the year RockstarBest song of the year Senorita by Shankar Ehsaan LoyBest music director AR Rahman for Nadaan Parindey from RockstarBest male vocalist Kamaal Khan for Ishq Sufiyana from The Dirty Picture Best female vocalist Sunidhi Chauhan for Ishq Sufiyana from The Dirty Picture Best Lyricist Javed Akhtar for Khaabon Ke Parinde from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara Lifetime achievement award KhayyamJury award for outstanding contribution to Hindi film music Babla Shah Best album of the golden era – Awaara (Shankar Jaikishen and Raj Kapoor) Best song representing sufi tradition Kun Faya Kun from Rockstar–AR Rahman, Javed Ali, Mohit Chauhan and Irshad KamilBest item number song Ooh La La from The Dirty Picture – Bappi Lahiri, Shreya Ghoshal, Rajat Arora and Vishal-ShekharBest raag inspired song Khoya Kya from Kashmakash – Hariharan, Sanjoy Das, Raja Narayan DebBest upcoming singer of the year (male) Kamaal Khan for Ishq Sufiyana (The Dirty Picture)Best upcoming singer of the year (female) Tia Bajpai for Sheet Leher from Lanka Best upcoming music director of the year Harshit Saxena for Haal-e-Dil from Murder 2 Best upcoming lyricist of the year Seema Saini for Sheet Leher from LankaBest album of the year (Mirchi Listeners Choice) RockstarBest song of the year (Mirchi Listeners Choice) Nadaan Parindey from Rockstar – AR Rahman, Mohit Chauhan and Irshad KamilBest background score Ram Sampath for Delhi BellyBest programmer & arranger Abhijeet Nalani & Giorgio Tuinfort for Chammak Challo from Ra.OneSpecial Recognition Pandit Chhannulal MishraBest song recording Vijay Dayal and Mark ‘Exit’ Goodchild for Chammak Challo from Ra.OneBest Indipop song Mera Kya Hai Sab Hai Tera-Dil Ki Baatein- Javed Ali, Alaap Dudul Saikia & RaviRoyal Stag Make it Large Award Dhanush and Anirudh (Special Award)