Sonu Nigam at the BIG STAR IMA Awards ...

The Indian Music Academy (IMA) co-founded by Durga Jasraj in 2006, has spent the last 5 years to fulfill the goals set by its founder Patron Pandit Jasraj and the illustrious Board of 12 Patrons. Having instituted the IMA Awards for dedicated contribution to music over a lifetime in 2006 and 2007, IMA entered into a joint venture with Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd. to produce India’s first comprehensive Music Award for Annual Excellence – the BIG STAR IMA AWARDS to be telecast on Star Plus on the 5th of June at 8pm.

The show features uniquely designed performances by Indian Music stars like Shankar Mahadevan, Percussionist Selva Ganesh and Violinist Ganesh and a breathtaking rendition of the variety of all genres of Indian Music and its journey over decades by Sonu Nigam – which will entertain audiences as never before in a Music Award function.

Also watch super stars Abhishek Bachchan and Katrina Kaif performing to their all-time hit songs like Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and Sheila ki Jawaani, and a tribute to the versatile composer, director, producer Vishal Bhardwaj by TV stars Sanjeeda Sheikh and Sushant Singh Rajput, and Amir Ali.

The BIG STAR IMA Awards provides national recognition to music talent across every genre of India’s Musical landscape – covering Classical, Folk, Ghazal, Sufi-Qawwali, Jazz and Blues, Electronica, Rock, DJ Remix, Film music, etc. These awards are truly the right blend of celebration of music in India.

The Award has many firsts –

The specialized Jury comprised renowned and veteran musicians from the Indian fraternity who judged five categories that they had excelled in. The Jury spent more than 700 man hours in marking each and every entry received.

Entries were solicited from musicians, lyricists, labels and the entire music industry, which resulted in a record breaking more than 3000 entries. The total of 25 Jury based awards cover five categories including Classical, Traditional, World Contemporary, Sound Design and Film.

The Popular Category Awards which are distinct in that they were chosen by listeners of the 92.7 BIG FM radio arm of Reliance Broadcast Network across its 45 station networks. Extensive digital promotions and on-ground activation was executed to create a buzz among listeners who voted for their favourite lyricist, composer, musician and singer in the popular section via SMS or Online logins.

The joint presentation of the most credible body of Music in India – Indian Music Academy, and two of the largest and popular media houses in the country Reliance Broadcast Network and Star India is not just entertaining but also the most authentic platform to felicitate annual excellence in all forms of Indian Music.