The ugly truth behind the glittery award shows

Even as the glitzy Stardust Awards played out on Colors this weekend, here's a real insight into the parlour games that Bollywood's movers and shakers play to keep their talents on top of the game.

Everyone who is anyone in the film and media business knows Bhushan Kumar, the head honcho of T Series. The company holds near monopoly rights over music rights, song rights and influence over performance rights of nearly All Bollywood songs. It's also no secret that Bhushan Kumar protects his musical finds and artists, looking after their interests.

So when Stardust awards decided to give the music of "Yaariyan' a near miss, in the best music category, Kumar wasn't pleased. The film, marking the debut of his pretty wife Divya Khosla Kumar as director, and with thumping hits from Honey Singh and other Indie artists, didn't even make it to some nomination lists of this award.

Bhushan made his displeasure clear - by sending out a clear message to the organisers. That if "Yaariyan" is ignored, then Stardust will have serious trouble landing rights to play songs & music during their event. Imagine how much that would damage the song and dance acts of the grand night!

Organisers immediately scrambled to please Kumar, as no awards' night can be telecast without performance rights & music rights in place. And so, two top prizes came Honey Singh's way! He won the Best Male Playback Singer' prize for the "Sunny Sunny" song, and the film's ensemble composers, including Honey Singh, won the Best Music prize'.

Even as Ankit Tiwari was given a special honour (called Rockstar or some such lofty term) for his "Galliyan" number! Initially, these prizes were slotted for Ankit, with the Best Playback Singer - Male definitely being his.

Clearly, Bhushan Kumar cares for his artist(s). Yet, the Infant Terrible of Bollywood music, Honey Singh is on an extended recovery hiatus! Hopefully, the Punjabi rockstar will get over his self-styled seclusion before Kumar runs out of kindness! And so the music played on at Stardust!