IndianTelevisionAcademy.com

The Event
When Television Got Taller…

14th November,’08…

As the last dots of dusk dissolved into the pot of night, a quake came to the TVdom – a quake of earth shattering merriment and abandon. Before that, all roads had led to the Bhavan’s Cultural Ground in suburban Mumbai and the TV-fraternity had flocked en-block in there to revel and rejoice at their annual festival of joy called, The IDEA ITA Awards.

Now in the 8th year of a highly celebrated existence, this Awards Ceremony has always been and continues to be the Biggest Night of the Small Screen, where each year… Television got taller!

And once again…
The pageantry was mind-blowing!
The panache was breath-taking!!
The pleasure was nerve-shattering!!!

True to their tradition, the ITA cooked up yet another novel theme for the evening, this year…

It was Las Vegas!

The humongous set reflected the gorgeous surroundings of the city of gambling. Also threaded into the décor were elements of James Bondian imagery. Needless to say, all of that laced the evening with enthralling exotica!

To relish that to the hilt, they came in droves – actors, directors, producers, writers, technicians – you name it! By all means and counts, it was an event of ‘Television, by Television, for Television’ (quote, unquote Shashi Ranjan, The ITA Convenor).

The evening started with a revealing act that opened out the set to the audience. Featuring the Saat Phere heartthrob, Sharad Kelkar, it had stunning interplay of light and sound. It was just the correct reflection of what was in store for the viewers, who watched it wide-eyed and wide-mouthed.

Actually, each of the 8 musical acts of entertainment elicited the same response. What is more, each had a theme and a thorough structure, in which were beaded songs of all hues and tenors. On stage, they were enacted and danced to, by a bristling bevy of TV belles and a boisterous bunch of TV beaus.

There was the ‘Diamond Robbery’ piece, featuring the Fab-4 of Bidaai - Parul & Sara with Kinshuk & Angad. Another was ‘Murder Mystery’ with Kaishma (Tanna) and Chaitanya. Then, there was ‘The Cabaret’ that had Mauni (Roy) and Sayantani (Ghosh), steaming hot, hot to the sexy beats of all time favs – Aa Jaan-e-Jaan, Aaj Ki Raat, Hungama Ho Gaya and so on to send the audience in a tizzy.

One act was built around a medley of latest songs from Dostana, Bachna Ae Haseeno and others. Swinging to them were the dazzling Aamir & Sanjeeda and the delightful Shaleen (Bhanot) and Barkha. Another rollicking piece was ‘Millenium Mughl-e-Azam’, which was a musical spoof, wherein the lethal combo of Asgar Ali (Akbar), Krushna (Salim) and Mona Singh (Anarkali) sent the audience in stitches.

A very special act was prepared on songs of Akshay Kumar, winner of The ITA Popular Icon – 2008. It was performed with loads of pep & pomp by the perfect dude ‘n’ doll combo of Rohit (Roy) and Jaswir.

However, the piéce-de-résistance of the evening was an item by a bunch of kiddos, wherein Avika & Avinash of Balika Vadhu along with Ahsaas & Amay knocked the daylights off their adult counterparts by rocking their bodies like there was no tomorrow.

That was the Fun part!

But the eve also had some heart-clutching moments, when the memory of the Police personnel martyred in the recent terror-strike on Mumbai was commemorated by The ITA.

Lips quivered, eyes moistened and the hearts beat fast when the kith and kin of the departed heroes stood on the stage to receive the honours.

It was a defining moment of The ITA’s care & concern for what is happening around us. Once again, they have shown that they are no mere naachnewale, gaanewale…

They are aware – and how!

It was in this vein only that they also celebrated that night the grit and guts of those intrepid reporters, who gave us the minute-to-minute graphic coverage of the goings-on in the terror-stricken Mumbai at the risk of their very lives.

All said, it was a night like no other night – at least in the world of Television! If it gave you oodles of pleasure, it also gave you the punch of emotions. That’s how the Academy and its Awards have always been. In words of The ITA prez, Anu Ranjan…

‘The Academy Awards are a carnival – but it is no less a clarion call too, by which we go on instilling a new awakening in the TV-fraternity and TV-watchers all across.’

Take a bow Anu – we are putting our hands together for that…

Bravo…!

Special Awards:

The ITA Popular Icon (2008) : Akshay Kumar

The GR8! Achiever Laurel (2008) : Shilpa Shetty

The GR8! Little Wonder of TV : Krishna Bhatia (Jai Shri Krishna)

Best Sports Personality of the Year : Harsha Bhogle