'Bajirao Mastani' leads GiMA Awards nominations

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's epic historical romance film "Bajirao Mastani", starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra, has topped the nomination pack of the sixth Gionee Colors GiMA Awards nominations with a mention in nine categories.

The Global Indian Music Academy (GiMA) honours the best talent in the music industry every year.

Categories in which "Bajirao Mastani" has been nominated include Best Music Arranger & Programmer, Best Engineer, Best Background Score, Best Playback Singer- Female, Best Playback Singer- Male, Best Duo/Group Song, Best Music Director, Best Film Song and Best Film Album.

Following closely with seven nominations is Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika's "Tamasha", and "Roy" with six nods.

In the Best Music Director category, A.R. Rahman ("Tamasha"), Ankit Tiwari, Amaal Mallik and Meet Bros Anjjan ("Roy"), Pritam ("Bajrangi Bhaijaan"), Pritam ("Dilwale"), Sanjay Leela Bhansali ("Bajirao Mastani") and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy ("Dil Dhadakne Do") have been nominated.

Contenders for Best Playback Singer - Male are: Arijit Singh for "Aayat" ("Bajirao Mastani"), Arijit Singh for "Khamoshiyan" ("Khamoshiyan"), Arijit Singh for "Soora dooba hai" ("Roy"), Mohit Chauhan for "Matargashti" ("Tamasha") and Papon for "Moh moh ke dhaage" ("Dum Laga Ke Haisha")

Nominated in the Best Playback Singer - Female category are Alka Yagnik for "Agar tum saath ho" ("Tamasha"), Jyoti Nooran for "Ghani bawri" ("Tanu Weds Manu Returns"), Kanika Kapoor for "Chittiyaan kalaiyaan" ("Roy"), Monali Thakur for "Moh moh ke dhaage" ("Dum Laga Ke Haisha"), Shreya Ghoshal for "Deewani Mastani" ("Bajirao Mastani") and Shreya Ghoshal for "Mohe rang do laal" ("Bajirao Mastani").

"Every year with the Gionee Colors GiMA Awards, we aspire to bring forth newer talent and recognise true achievements in the music industry. This year we have introduced the 'Best Music Video' category and have been successful in reaching out to many more talented artists from across the country," Sabbas Joseph, director - Wizcraft International said in a statement.

Commenting on his nomination, Rahman said: "I am really happy to be nominated for this year's Global Indian Music Academy Awards across four categories for 'Tamasha'. It is always a great feeling when your work is appreciated by the fraternity."

In the Best Lyricist category, Amitabh Bhattacharya for "Gerua" ("Dilwale" ), Gulzar for "Zinda" ("Talvar"), Irshad Kamil for "Agar tum saath ho" ("Tamasha"), Kausar Munir for "Tu jo mila" ("Bajrangi Bhaijaan"), Kumaar for {"Soora dooba hai" ("Roy") and Varun Grover for "Moh moh ke dhaage" ("Dum Laga Ke Haisha") stand a chance to win.

Amongst the non-film categories, singles like "Dheere dheere se meri zindagi" by Yo Yo Honey Singh, "Enchantress" by The Manoj Pandya Collective, "Khalipan" by Salim - Sulaiman, "Khuda mere" by Shraddha Shree, "Saiyyan bina" by Sonu Nigam and Bickram Ghosh and "Sway with me" by Dhruv feat. Vasuda Sharma have been nominated in the Best Pop Song category.

For the Best Music Video award, "Baanwarey" by Midival Punditz, "Dheere dheere se meri zindagi" by Yo Yo Honey Singh, "Dhima" by Dhruv feat. Ila Arun, "Lonely sound" by Srinidhi Venkatesh, "Main rahoon ya na rahoon" by Armaan Malik and "Mere Gully Mein" by Divine feat. Naezy are the nominees.

The voting process for the award show is open only to members from the Indian music industry and is monitored by KPMG, the official process validators for the awards.