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WEDNESDAY, 14 NOVEMBER 2012 23:13

PIONEER

Zee Rishtey awards gave a chance to the audience to come close to their favourite TV stars. Aerial performances were the high point of the event, says E Malik

While the Oscars always take the cake for being the most coveted award ceremony and the most sought-after A listed events for all stars to be seen in their fashionable best. The Indian in house TV awards seem to be taking a cue from their counterparts abroad.

Every Indian satellite channel has their own in house awards function, followed madly by the audience. The event is an extension of the brand image and the underlying philosophy of the channel.

The actors stay in character during the award ceremony, dressing similar to their part in the show, they sit with their extended family (the one they are a part of onscreen), and then they soak in the adulation of the crowd who revel in the close proximity of their beloved TV actors.

The in house awards have got bigger and grander. No stone is left unturned, the scale of the event can give competition to the many film award shows. The fans get a good deal, for they get to see their stars in flesh and blood and share the same breathing space.

The recently-held Zee Rishtey awards were the extension of the same philosophy. There was a mad rush and all pervading sense of palpable excitement in the crowd at Andheri Sports Complex, Mumbai. The dhol and the nagadas playing at regular intervals did a lot to not hamper the mood of the audience who waited patiently for their favourite star cast to appear on the red carpet.

The channel; stuck to their core Indian values as the award ceremony kicked off with the blessings of Sri Ram and Sita (played by the cast of the show Ramayan). They flew in from the sky on their chariot (very akin to the Pushpak Viman, that brought Ram, Sita and Lakshman home, in the Ramayana), and took their rightful place in the Sanctum Sanctorum of the temple created mid stage.

The huge stage had the Taj Mahal at one end, the Qutub Minar and India Gate at the other. A Rajasthani palace was also present and so was a haveli. The award function was grand in every way.

The stars of the prime time shows of Zee TV did a meet and greet with the audience, as they climbed chariots, open cars, big open show trucks, and went about the sports complex waving and acknowledging the thunderous applause. The cast of Pavitra Rishta, Sapne Suhane Lakadpan Keand the newly-launched Qubool Hai got the loudest cheers. People shouted out their names and threw flowers at the passing entourage.

The host of the evening was Jay Bhanushali, who rose to prominence as a host of dance reality show Dance India Dance. Young and effervescent, he was in his element, drawing in on his fellow co-stars of the channel. Sonu Nigam also came in for a while, for he was acknowledging his long association with the channel, as the host of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.

The ceremony was attended by Anurag Basu, Ekta Kapoor, Jeetendra, Kunal Kohli. Rakhi Sawant also made a brief appearance. Raj Zutshi, Archana Puran Singh and husband Parmeet Sethi also walked the red carpet. Actors from yesteryear's hit shows like Tara, Amanat, Hum Paanch also attended the awards ceremony.

The evening saw performances from finalists of the Dance Indian dance Lil Masters, who made the audience sway to their beats of horror music. The kids, were dressed as zombies and vampires and they took off on a flying graveyard and did an aerial circumnavigation of the venue.

This was followed by a rendition of actors' interpretation of what a leading lady should be like. Narayani Shastri grooved on Bedardi Raja and Kratika Singh performed on Dil Mera Muft Ka. Ankita Lokhande danced to Challa from Ishaqzaade. Later all the leading ladies climbed onto a chandelier that was hung from the stage and then taken to considerable heights.

The finale was by all the parivaars of Zee — from Mrs Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuyen to Hitler Didi, Pavitra Rishta and Punar Vivah the members came together and performed to be in competition for the Best Parivaar award. Mrs Kaushik was seen moving to the song Ban Than, while the cast ofSapne Suhane Lakadpan Ke had chosen the track Womaniya to present their case. Pavitra Rishtadanced to the Marathi version of Chikni Chameli.

It was a night that was well worth the wait. The janta who had rooted for their favourite stars went home satisfied as their loved ones took home the coveted trophies.