MUMBAI: The off screen talent that makes for great television in India today had its day in the sun with the presentation of the Indian Telly Trade and Technical Awards 2002 at a distinguished ceremony in Mumbai tonight.

Held at the Harbour Hall of the Tulip Star in suburban Mumbai, the awards, given away in the presence of luminaries from the television industry, acknowledged the tremendous contribution of the technical and trade fields to the growth of the television industry in India.

The TV CFO of the year award was bagged by Star India's Shankar Narayan, while the TV communications and PR executive award went to Star India's Shola Rajachandran.

The TV Marketing Executive of the year award was awarded to Star India's Mubina Ansari, while the TV distribution executive of the year was Aaj Tak's Amitabh Srivastava, who said a novel concept like the Tellys which have dared to go behind the screen to recognise talent, could only improve each year.

The TV ad sales executive of the year trophy awarded to Raj Nayak, was collected by Star seniror VP, programming Tarun Katial, while Hathway Cable and Datacom of Mumbai was adjudged the best MSO of the year. Hathway CEO Jayaraman, who collected the trophy, attributed the honour to a team effort and said that despite being a smaller player and a late entrant, Hathway had managed to establish its quality in a short while.

The Best Special Visual effects award was bagged by Cinevistaas for Sshhh...Koi Hai (Khoj). Cinevistaas creative director Siddharth Malhotra said it was encouraging that the Tellys had taken upon themselves the task of including categories hitherto unacknowledged by many popular television and cinema awards.

The best art direction award for the outstanding set design was bestowed upon Priya Ragunath for Sansaar. Priya echoed Malhotra's sentiments, saying that the hitherto neglected medium of television was only now receiving its due share of recognition.

Among the technical awards, Hiroo Keswani bagged the best videography for his deft camerawork on Sshhh...koi hai (Doosri Dulhan), while Ritu Deora took away the award for the best costumes for a TV show for her creative stitches in Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand.

The best TV channel packaging award went to SET India for the Sony Entertainment Channel ID. Awadh Singh was given the best TV picture editor of the year award for his work on TV show Kudrat.

On air promos had their share of the honours too. Dial 100 on Sabe TV won the best promo for a Fiction Show award while Making Movies on B4U took away the award for best promo for a music show. The Aaj Tak promo campaign bagged the best promo for a news show award.

Noted ghazal singer Jagjit Singh, won the best title singer for a TV show award for Heena aired on Sony. The award was accepted in his absence by well known director Lekh Tandon.

Ssshhh...koi hai took the award once again, this time for best TV show packaging. Roy Barretto, the creative brain behind the effort, accepted the award.

Prasoon Joshi was adjudged TV lyricist of the year for Hum Pardesi Ho Gaye . "Getting an award is indeed very encouraging as I am a fresh entrant in this in this field. These are categories which are seldom recognised . I feel honoured and will definitely put in my best."

Ashish Rego honoured for the best background music for a TV show for Kagaar. Rego who said he was overwhelmed by the honour bestowed on him, said that while the trade and technical side of television had so far not got its due, the Tellys were a step in the right direction.

Veteran composer Khayyam was given the award for TV Music Director of the year for Milan. Speaking on the occasion, he said, "It feels great to receive this award . This award has a special significance as it recognises my win in a race where many youngsters have set in, it feels wonderful. I congratulate Anil on a truly wonderful function , however I would appreciate it if the technical awards are clubbed with the popular awards next year " he added.

Writer of the Sabe TV comedy Office Office won Ashwani Dhir the TV Scriptwriter of the year award. "I feel honoured to receive this award. It is an award that recognises my simplicity and my belief that one should write what one actually feels. We must have more of these awards which recognises technicians who seldom come into the limelight," Dhir said.

The show was interspersed with scintillating performances by Meghana Naidu who regaled the audience with renditions of Kaliyon Ka Chaman and Sharara Sharara, and the Band of Boys who presented a medley of their hit songs of the year.

In his closing speech, indiantelevision CEO Anil Wanvari said he hoped that some of the categories that had not received as warm a response this year, like the CTO and outstanding female executive of the year, would be favourably responded to next year.