Sahydri Navratna Awards 2004

The Sahyadri Navratna Awards, into its third year, is being held this year on 14 April on Doordarshan's premises at Worli in central Mumbai.The Sahyadri awards are presented to eminent Maharashtrians for excellence in a particular field of interest. One of the highlights of this year's awards ceremony is that the guest list includes India's nightingale Lata Mangeshkar.

The nine-member jury for the Navratna Awards 2004 comprises eminent people from various spheres. The list includes renouned journalist Arun Tikekar, Marathi theatre artist Mohan Wagh, film producer and ex sheriff of Mumbai Kiran Shantaram, industrialist Minal Mohandikar, vice-chancellor SNDT University Mumbai Rupa Shah, former editor Femina Vimla Patil, director general information and publicity (government of Maharashtra) Nitin Gadre, renouned music critic Dr Ashok Ranade and cricketer Ajit Wadekar.The list of awardees this year comprises of people working in varied fields like music, films, education, drama and so on. The nine Navratra's this year consists of people like Shridhar Phadke, who's receiving the Swar Ratna Award for music while the Chitra Ratna Award is going to Sachin Pilgaonkar for his achievements in the field of films and entertainment. Than there is Dr Shankarrao Magar who's receiving the Shiksha Ratna Award for his work in education. Meanwhile, Prabhakar Panshikar, Anjali Bhagwat Vedpathak and Dr Anil Avachat are getting awards for drama, sports and social work respectively. The Ratnasharda Award for women this year will go to Rajiya Patel. while Vijay Kuwalekar will take home the Ratnadarpan Award for his work in journalism. Lastly there is the IT Entrepreneur Ratna Udami that will go to Dr Vijay Bhatkar. Sahyadri channel director Mukesh Sharma said he is very happy to be a part of the Navratna Awrads. But he also stressed that the channel did not play any part as far as choice of awardee was concerned. MUMBAI: The third Sahyadri Navratna Awards ceremony took place at Doordarshan's premises at Worli on Wednesday 14 April. Inaugurated by Prasar Bharati chief executive KS Sarma, the event was attended by eminent personalities from various spheres.     Lata Mangeskar lit the lamp. Later she was felicitated by a memento and Rs one lakh by KS Sarma. It was followed by the felicitation of the nine-member award jury by Mukesh Sharma.Other prominent personalities who attended the event included actors Raza Murad, Kabir Bedi, singer Ila Arun, billiard master Geet Sethi and cricketer Bapu Nadkarni. The first award of the evening, Natyaratna, was presented by Lata Mangeskar to Prabhakar Panshikar for drama. Ila Arun and Vijay Kalantri presented the Ratna Udyami Award to Dr. Vijay Bhatkar for his excellence in the field of IT. Ratna Saurabhi was awarded to Anjali Bhagwat Vedpathak for her excellent in sports, by Geet Sethi and Bapu Nadkarni. Sachin Pilgaonkar won the award in the entertainment section while Shridhar Phadke got the Swar Ratna for music. Dr Shankarrao Magar received the Shiksha Ratna for his contribution in the field of education and Dr Anil Avachat walked away with the Seva Ratna for social work. Vijay Kuwalkar won the Ratna Sharda award for his works in journalism. Ratna Sharda for women went to Rajiya Patel. The Sahyadri awards are presented to eminent Maharashtrians for excellence in particular fields of interest. Sahyadri will telecast the award ceremony on 1 May, which is Maharashtra day.