:: 2nd Indus Music Awards ::

2nd Indus Music Awards

	Indus Music continued to break music barriers this year with The 2nd Jazz IM Awards' that took place at the Defence Golf Club on Saturday, April 30, 2005. The mega-event, like its predecessor was held in collaboration with Mobilink Jazz, Pakistan's Favorite Cellular Service. Indus Music is Pakistan's only channel to hold annual music awards where music titans, fashion celebrities, celluloid and TV stars converge to celebrate the accomplishments of Pakistan's myriad and diverse musicians. The show brought together many of the country's most popular singers and bands along with movie and TV stars. The presenters included Nizar Lallani, Nadya Mistry, Yusuf Salahuddin, Asim Raza, ZQ, Amina Shifaat, Imaan Ali, Nadia Hussain, Adnan Malik ; Stylists Nabila, Shahzad Raza, and Tariq Amin; TV and film personalities Sania Saeed, Savera Nadeem, Moammar Rana, Humayun Saeed Adnan Siddiqui, Fakr-E-Alam; Mr. Bilal Munir Sheikh (Director Marketing, Mobilink), Mr. Zouhair A. Khaliq (President & CEO Mobilink) and Mr. Khawaja Atif (Global Head, Sales - UBL).
The stars entered a red carpet space where they were 'interrogated' about their sartorial and style choices and predictions for the evening by the suave Ali Kazmi and the vivacious Nini. Designers who dressed the presenters, hosts and performers included Nomi Ansari, Fayez Agariah, Deepak Perwani, Munib Nawaz, Aijaz Aslam and Abdul Samad. Jewellery was graciously lent by Zehra Kachelo of Xara's at Park Towers. The grand set which had a futuristic and industrial aura with projections onto the backdrop was the perfect backdrop to the electric performances that ensued and added glamour and energy to the proceedings.

	The show opened with a show reel of IM's most popular vjs? PK satirically commenting on the previous awards and offering a general welcome from a spoof-like Hollywood Hills backdrop. This was followed by an energetic medley performance of 'Hawa, Hawa' by IM's â€œstarâ€? VJs Anoushey and Dino. The very talented and flexible US import Aisha performed a dance rendition of 'Disco Deewane that easily segued into an endearing dance duet by Ahmed Butt and Sendra. The extremely confident Sonu Jackson energized the audience with his dance machinations first to Sajjad Ali's 'Babiya' and then to Abrar-ul-Haq's 'Billo' with his dancers. The evening's emcee (MC) was the fast-talking and humorous IM VJ Dino who invigorated the audience with his double entendres and jibes at various music celebrities who took it all in good humour. The highly anticipated first three category awards were given out: Best Lyrics were won by Atif and Gohar for 'Aadat.â€? The 'Best Bhangra Song' was 'Ishq' by Rahim Shah who beat out Josh and Abrar-ul-Haq among others. The scintillating 'Best Rock Song' category was won by E.P for 'Waqt' beating out acts such as
Karavan, Rungg and Razam. IM VJs, the charismatic Faizan Haq and charming Anoushey introduced the first musical act Atif Aslam who performed 'Gal Sun Ja' dressed in a Boy Scout like black attire with yellow embellishments only to change later into an even more unusual fashion choice: a Kashmiri pink half-sleeved Awarmi kurta!

	Nazia Hassan cover artist Rabi Peerzada performed a fast paced rendition of the late pop songstress's 'Boom Boom' before the next three category winners and a 'Special IM Award' was announced. 'Best Alternative Track' went to 'Sajan' by the Mekaal Hassan Band' who obliterated Mizraab, Jigga Fez, Khiza and even the very popular Zeeshan & Sajid's 'King of Self.' Gohar and Atif took the stage to jointly receive the 'Best Composer' Award for 'Aadat' who quite interestingly and paradoxically swept the award away from 'Jal the Band' for 'Woh Lamey'! After their recent acrimonious relations it was heart rending to see the two former band members hug each other and Atif wishing Gohar all the best of luck.? Only IM could orchestrate such a coup! The pop-bhangra duo Josh flew specially from Montreal to receive a 'Special IM Award' for their 'Extensive Contribution to the Pop Industry, ' while the 'Best Debut,' given to encourage new talent, was won by Call for 'Pukaar' who overwhelmed the other nominees the ever-popular and hip-swiveling Sendra and the almost Goth-Rock solo artist Hash. Noori performed 'Kuttay' with abandon and their disheveled appearan
-ce correlated perfectly with the angry tone of the lyrics. The talented and versatile Humayun Saeed continued the tradition of making a crowd-pleasing impact when he danced with the equally talented Aisha to a medley of Faakhir's 'Mahi Ve' and 'Toba Hai'.

	The softer categories of 'Best Pop Song,' Best Ballad' and the highly contested 'Best Band' elicited a lot of interest and then dissension from the audience. 'Best Pop Song' went to 'Aadat' which was received by Gohar and Atif while 'Best Ballad' deservedly went to 'Khamaj' by Fuzon who swept over Ahmed Jahanzaib, Strings, Sajjad Ali and even Najam Shiraz's very popular 'Mainu Tere Naal.' The supremacy of Jal who won the award for 'Best Band' vexed many in the audience including supporters of Fuzon, Strings, EP and Josh who the controversial band beat. It seems Jal's continuous presence in the news kept them fresh in the minds of the viewers who voted for them as part of this 'Viewer's Choice' category. This award was presented by the very beautiful Imaan Ali who chose to look individualistic in a stark white kimono sleeved ensemble by Sonya Battla and a turquoise choker by Xara, alongside Mr. Bilal Munir Sheikh (Director marketing, Mobilink). An electrifying fusion dance performance was orchestrated by the white-clad Khattak impresario Nighat Chaudhry and the salsa sensation Junni who melded eastern and western dance moves into a perfect
mÃ©lange. Fuzon debuted their latest mesmerizing ballad, 'Neend Nahin Ayae' which had the opposite effect by enlivening the audience with its soul lifting lyrics and melody.The next two categories were also highly competitive as they represented the efforts of many individuals and many hours working in recording studios and on sets.

	These of course were the awards for 'Best Album' and 'Best Video' The 'Best Album' award was presented by the glamorous Nabila and the talented Asim Raza and went to 'Thar Productions' for Abrar-ul Haq's 'Nachan De Ode Naal.' However Abrar-ul Haq was not present at the awards ceremony due to a prior engagement. The 'Best Video' award, apart from the competition garnered by the video directors was also poignant as it also pitted against each other two of the most competitive fashion industry figures who styled two of the favourite sure winners: Nabila who styled Asim Raza's video for Faakir's 'Mahi Ve'; and Tariq Amin who styled Saqib Malik's 'Khamaj' video for Fuzon. But it was the latter that bagged the award that was presented by Saqib's brother Adnan Malik with Sara Sadiq from Mobilink. The award was received by an overjoyed Tariq Amin and Freiha Altaf on behalf of Saqib who could not make it to the awards. Mohammed Ali Shaiki was inducted into the 'IM Hall of Fame' for his lifetime commitment to pop music and as one of its pioneers of this genre. An informative and well-edited show reel was shown to highlight the myriad contributions made by
latest IM inductee. Sonu Jackson and his troupe clad in Michael Jacksonesque garb performed a scintillating rendition of â€œthe gloved one'sâ€? 'Dangerous' which was followed by a medley of other western and desi dances by the troupe.

	Another 'Special IM Award' was handed out to Strings for their 'Extensive Contribution to the Pop Industry.' Hadiqa Kiyani, who for the second year did not attend the IM awards, won the award for 'Best Pop Artist-Female' for 'Dholan' making insignificant other nominees, Seher, Khadija, Humaira Arshad and Shazia Manzoor. Veteran singer Ahmed Rushdi was the other significant artist who was deservedly inducted into 'The IM Hall of Fame' for his contributions to classical music in Pakistan. Dancer Aisha and Lahori model/actor Ahmed Butt performed a sensually choreographed, female empowering dance tableau of the Eurythmics' 'Sweet Dreams' which was followed by Jal's performance of 'Woh Lamhey'.
Another 'Special IM Award' was given to Zeeshan Pervaiz and Sajjad Ghafoor for their 'Debut in a Foreign Language Song' for their song 'King of Self.' One of the most coveted awards 'Best Pop Artist Male went to the heart throb of the masses Ali Zafar. who earlier performed his winning song 'Rangeen' clad in a white tank top similar to the one in his video. Ali's speech was poignant and heart-felt especially when he jumped off the stage to ask Lifetime Achievement awardee Ustad Fateh Ali to bless him and hand him the award. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Ustaad Fateh Ali for his lifetime contributions to the genre of classical music by Zouhair A. Khaliq, President and CEO, Mobilink and Ghazanfar Ali CEO, Indus TV Network. The breathtaking finale was performed and end-noted by Overload, featuring legendary 'dhol magician' Papu Saien who mesmerized the audience with their interplay of western percussion and entrancing dhol rhythms