Awards
‘Jassi’ dazzles at FPGI’s Apsara awards
MUMBAI: The Apsara awards organised by the Film Producers Guild Awards were termed as an honour to the television and film fraternity by its own peers. Held at Grand Hyatt on 29 May, the first ever film and television awards by FPGI boasted of glamour and glitz, unfortunately none from the telly industry.
Although Star Plus might still be the number one channel, it was the number two channel- Sony Entertainment Television that stole the thunder.
The television awards, which were flagged off first, had Sony basking in glory as it bagged as many as five awards (see the winners’ List) for its top show Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin produced by Tony and Deeya Singh.But it was hardly surprising that the night belonged to Sony Entertainment Television as there was not a single nomination for the most watched shows on Star Plus Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii and Kahiin To Hoga . Surprisingly, TRPs Star Plus’ top shows are nearly three times what Sony registers with its most watched show Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin.
SET India executive vice president and business head Sunil Lulla walked up the stage to receive the award for the best marketing. Grinning from ear to ear he offered on his acceptance speech, “I am glad that our team work has paid off. We all are happy and excited. Our efforts made a distinctive difference and we are proud of it.”
Mona ‘Jassi’ Singh could hardly conceal her excitement when she was asked to say a few words. She was almost out of breath.
SAB TV and Eagle Video Films’ Office Office romped home with three awards, NDTV that had telecast the event live- won two awards: the best factual/non fiction programme award for the Big Story for Afghanistan TV and the best News anchoring by Barkha Dutt and Rajdeep Sardesai.
Sardesai’s acceptance speech drew loud cheers. In his speech, he requested the journalist to maintain integrity, “I am pained to see that there is no integrity amongst journalists,” he remarked.
However, the loudest cheers went up for Tony and Deeya Singh who walked up to receive the award for the best drama series, clearly showing that the couple enjoys high respect in the industry and outside it.
Balaji Telefilms was honoured as the best production house, which Jeetendra went up stage to receive. Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor, who normally do attend award functions were conspicuous by their absence. Neither was Aroona Irani whose serial Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand on Star Plus bagged the award for the best title music.
A special award was declared for Subhash Chandra for ushering in the cable and satellite revolution on Indian television.
But surprisingly, very few actors from the TV industry attended the functions. Either they were too busy, or they were just not interested because there were only 13 categories in TV industry to be awarded. Had it not been from the film industry, the absence of glamour would have stood out like a sore thumb.
Award list:
BEST ACTRESS IN TELEVISION SERIES
Mona Singh – Jasmeet Walia (Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin, DJ’s A Creative Unit)
BEST ACTRESS BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A TELEVISION SERIES
Mona Singh – Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin (DJ’s A Creative Unit)
BEST ANIMATED SERIES
Tenali Rama (Crest Communication Ltd)
BEST FACTUAL / NON-FICTION
Big Story – Afghanistan (NDTV)
BEST NEWS ANCHOR
Rajdeep Sardesai / Barkha Dutt (NDTV)
BEST DIRECTOR FOR TELEVISION SERIES
Rohit Khanna (Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin)
BEST ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES
Pankaj Kapoor (Office Office, Eagle Video Films)
BEST DRAMA SERIES
Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin (DJ’s A Creative Unit)
BEST COMEDY SERIES
Office Office (Eagle Video Films)
BEST TITLE SONG
Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand (AK Films Pvt Ltd)
BEST MUSICAL SHOW
Hero Honda Sa Re Ga Ma Pa (Zee Telefilms Ltd)
Film awards:
BEST SCREENPLAY
Vidhu Vinod Chopra/Rajkumar Hirani /Lajan Joseph (Munnabhai MBBS)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Anil Mehta (Kal Ho Na Ho)
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Muneesh Sappel (Pinjar)
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Jaya Bachchan (Kal Ho Na Ho)
BEST LYRICS
Javed Akhtar – Kal Ho Na Ho (Kal Ho Na Ho)
BEST ART DESIGN
Muneesh Sappel – (Pinjar)
BEST MUSIC
Shankar – Ehsaan – Loy – (Kal Ho Na Ho)
BEST FEMALE PLAYBACK SINGER
Alka Yagnik – Oodhni (Tere Naam)
BEST MALE PLAYBACK SINGER
Sonu Nigan – Kal Ho Na Ho (Kal Ho Na Ho)
BEST EDITING
Rajkumar Hirani (Munnabhai MBBS)
BEST SOUND RECORDING
Dwarak Warrier (Bhoot)
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS
Bimmini Special FX Digital Art Media (Koi… Mil Gaya)
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Pankaj Kapoor (Maqbool)
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Hrithik Roshan (Koi Mil Gaya)
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Urmila Matondkar (Bhoot)
BEST DIRECTOR
Rakesh Roshan (Koi Mil Gaya)
BEST FILM
Filmkraft Productions (I) Pvt Ltd (Koi Mil Gaya)
Awards
MRSI to honour B.V. Pradeep with lifetime achievement award
Veteran insights leader to be recognised at 7th Golden Key Awards in Mumbai
MUMBAI: The Market Research Society of India will confer its Lifetime Achievement Award on B.V. Pradeep at the 7th Golden Key Awards on March 6, 2026, in Mumbai, celebrating a career that has quietly shaped how businesses listen to consumers.
With more than four decades in the field, Pradeep is widely regarded as one of the architects behind the transformation of market research from a support function into a strategic growth engine. An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, he spent nearly 30 years with Unilever in India and overseas, where he developed research frameworks and insight-led systems that went on to become global best practices.
Long before consumer centricity became corporate shorthand, Pradeep championed the idea that organisations should build from the consumer backwards. He played a key role in formalising the consumer and market Insights function, elevating it from number crunching to boardroom influence. From reshaping sensory research in tea and refining brand equity measurement in the 1990s to designing large-scale insight systems and behaviour change models, his work helped businesses turn observation into action.
His impact stretches well beyond India. Pradeep served on Esomar’s Governing Council as vice president and treasurer and worked to strengthen India’s presence in the global research community. He has chaired the joint technical committee for Television Audience Measurement, been a governing council member of the Media Research Users Council and led MRSI as president from 1999 to 2005. He now heads his consultancy, Catalyst-4ur-Growth, advising organisations on marketing, insights and analytics.
TAM Media Research chief growth and partnerships officer and MRSI president Nitin Kamat, said Pradeep’s contribution extends beyond frameworks and methodologies. “He reshaped how organisations think about consumers and expanded the sector’s horizons beyond FMCG. His work elevated insights into a strategic lever for growth, and we are proud to honour his legacy.”
Kantar managing director and qualitative head Apac and committee chair for the award Paru Minocha, noted that Pradeep’s influence is both deep and enduring. “He pioneered frameworks that unlocked growth for clients and agencies alike and helped position India strongly on the global research map. His work strengthened the strategic role of consumer insights in lasting ways.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award jury was chaired by C K Sharma, former strategic consultant and principal at Gallup, and included senior industry leaders from Nestlé India, RSPL, Quantum Consumer Solutions and Inteliphyle Ltd.
As the Golden Key Awards return for their seventh edition, MRSI continues to spotlight the people and ideas that power the research and insights industry. This year, the spotlight falls firmly on a man who ensured that the consumer voice was not just heard, but heeded.
