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2nd
Indus Music Awards |
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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). |
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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. |
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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 “star� 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.� 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 |
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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! |
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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 |
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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'. |
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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 |
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mélange. 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. |
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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
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latest IM inductee.
Sonu Jackson and his troupe clad in Michael Jacksonesque garb
performed a scintillating rendition of “the gloved one's�
'Dangerous' which was followed by a medley of other western and desi
dances by the troupe. |
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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'. |
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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 |
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