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Guess what were Meghna Malik, Aashka Goradia, Yateen Karyekar, Tisca Chopra, BP Singh, and Prashant Bhatt doing on 16 July 2012? Well for most part of the day they were huddled together at Anuj Saxena's Blue Waters restaurant in Mumbai as part of the Indian jury which was judging entries to the New York-held International Emmy Awards from all over the world.
The decision to organize and host the semi-final round of judging of the International Emmys was the brainchild of Indiantelevision.com group and The Indian Telly Awards founder Anil Wanvari. And it is for the seventh year that Wanvari - a member of the New York headquartered International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences - was chosen to put together an Indian jury and partner the academy in shortlisting the finalists for the prestigious global awards for two categories - best performance by an actor from Asia/Africa/Middle-East and from Latin America.
Says Indiantelevision.com group founder and CEO and International Emmy member Anil Wanvari, “We are delighted to have partnered the International Academy because it gave Indian television professionals a chance to see the best programming from all over the world, which is very different from the day to day programming that they have to churn out for Indian channels. For me, it proved a very refreshing experience, and is part of Indiantelevision.com's and The Indian Telly Awards' stated agenda to help contribute to raising the standard of television programming in India."
International Emmy Awards judging director, Mr. Nathaniel Brendel came all the way from Manhattan, New York to oversee the judging process. And he also said that he was delighted to have the International Emmy entries being judged by an Indian jury as the television industry in India is pretty dynamic and it helps fulfill the academy's objective of being truly international. "And Anil has been more than supportive of our mandate," he said. "And we are delighted and grateful to partner him."
Other jury members included: cinematographer Dharam Gulati, Colors Fiction Head Prashant Bhatt, Cinevistaas creative head Siddharth Malhotra, Walkwater Media vice president Gurudev Bhalla, Fremantle Media programming head Anupama Mandloi, Big Synergy director Anita Kaul Basu, Contiloe Films director Roopali Kadyan Singh, well known actor Yateen Kareyakar and television actress Aashka Goradia.
Malik was ecstatic about being an International Emmy juror once again. Said she: “It’s amazing! I have been judging from the last three years. I feel honoured to be on the jury. It’s a very prestigious thing to be in one. I loved seeing all the series; they were quite entertaining and very well shot. The performances by some of the actors were outstanding, something we all can watch, experience and learn from.”
Anupama Mandloi shared, “It feels great to be part of the jury and I loved the way the drama series have been shot. All of them are very interesting and engaging.”
Added Malhotra: "I watch a lot of international television shows. So I am quite exposed to international content; but watching the variety of performances and shows here was a real eye-opener."
Added Tisca Chopra, “It’s great to be a part of the jury, it makes you all the more responsible and I feel highly honoured judging the semis.”
Averred Prashant Bhatt, “Well, I am an actor and hence I was judging looking at the various aspects. I feel honoured and blessed. This is the first time I am on a jury . Hence, I am actually very happy and at the same time honoured.”
Commented Aakasha Goradia, “Well, it feels great being a part of semis of the prestigious international Emmys. I was completely engrossed in the series.”
Brandel says he hopes to see a greater number of entries from India so that a TV show from India can win an International Emmy. "It is only a matter of time," he says. Agrees Wanvari: "Last year Zee TV chairman Subhash Chandra was awarded the Founders Emmy, a much deserved honor. Who knows if enough Indian programs enter, a show or an actor might also bring one of those glittering gold statuettes home."
May his words come true!!!!