On New Year’s Eve the award ceremony assembled all the popular persons of show business of Uzbekistan at the “Navoi State Academic Bolshoy Theater”. Ladies and gentlemen under soft lights and greeting applause were lead onto carpet strip and viewed a laser show which created an atmosphere of wonderful holiday. The vast hall of the theater was filled with popular artists, culture and art figures, representatives of large sound recording companies and other well-known people.

“This event has successfully flown into other New Year’s Eve arrangements”, shred a singer Rashid Halikov his opinion with UT reporter. “There is a calm and exultant mood here. Everybody is waiting for the fairy show”.

It can be said that the holiday was a success according to most of its participants. First of all, the ceremony presenters acquainted the audience with the jury. The team of judges consisted of 25 professionals in all fields of culture and art. It was jury that decided the three contenders for each nomination. All citizens of Uzbekistan could participate in SMS voting which determined nomination winners’ further fortune. Therefore, the prize became purely a people’s one, at the same time was supported by a professional evaluation of specialists.

The laureates were awarded a special prize—a crystal parallelepiped with a laser-engraved emblem. For the first time in the history of Uzbek show business, the winners were also awarded prize money between five hundred thousand and one million soums.

Two films: “Kelgindi kelin” (Arrival bride) and “Bir kam dunyo” (Incomplete world) privileged in the nomination related to achievements in cinematography. They were the favourites of the ceremony. “Kelgindi kelin” won the main prize “Best film of the year”.

“It is wonderful that we have so many private film studios”, noted Jasur Iskhakov, a film director who presented prizes to winners. “We observe that both the number and the quality of Uzbek films are increasing now”.

A young but popular actor Farrukh Saipov who played one of the key roles in this film was awarded in an important nomination “Best actor of the year”.

Another extraordinary film of the year “Bir kam dunyo” won other nominations in cinematography. The creators of this film won such nominations as “Best sound track of the year”, “”Best serial of the year” and “Best actress of the year”.

“I am pleased with that “Bir kam dunyo” was greatly appreciated”, said actress Gavhar Zakirova. “Both the film and serial were shot by a team of real professionals. They actually stood out among the rest of the cinematographic works. The victory proved once more the love of audience for this film”.

Honoured singers of Uzbekistan Sevara Nazarkhan and Rashid Halikov finished the triumph of the film with their duet hit from the serial “Bir kam dunyu”.

Harsh competition developed in music front. Three worthy singers known as stars in Uzbek variety art Sevara Nazarkhan, Rayhon and Sogdiana were contenders for the nomination “Best singer of the year”. But only one of them appeared on the stage. The beautiful Rayhon in a smart evening dress became the winner of this nomination.

Sardor Rahimkhon was recognized as the best male singer of the year. He defeated two of his colleagues: rappers Shakhrukh and Shahriyor. Nasiba Abdullayeva presented the prize to the winner.

“At last, we have our worthy national prize”, informed UT N. Abdullayeva. “I do hope that it will be a good tradition and everybody will be forward to waiting last December dates to know who will be the best of best”.

The favourite singer of Uzbekistan’s teenagers Shakhrukh who was second in the nomination “Best singer of the year” won the nomination “Best clip of the year”. The video-reel for the song “Bolaligim” (My childhood) became more popular than Tohir Sodikov’s “Vatan” (Motherland) and even “Bir kam dunyou” of Sevara Nazarkhan and Rashid Halikov. 

“In my opinion, such a music trend as rap is not so developed in our country. There are no so many rap groups and singers to compete with each other and aspire to more qualitative performance on the stage. I hope that this prize will encourage further development of rap in Uzbekistan. After all, it is always pleasant and honourable to be awarded such a prize”, commented Shakhrukh.

The prize did not forget so-called “soldiers of the invisible front” arrangers and composers. Ravil Gimazutdinov was awarded a prize as well. He composes bright music which demonstrates vocal talent of Uzbek performers.

Most of participants and guests of the ceremony note that originality of “Music & Television Arts Award” is that not only popular performers of stage are awarded this prize but also those who for some reasons remain off-screen.

“Every appreciation is of great importance for a creator”, said Rustam Madumarov, a member of jury and general producer of “Gamma Promotion” Limited Liability Company. “The primary goal of every prize is to stimulation and inspiration for seeking new creation. I am pleased that this rewarding ceremony brought to light those people who used to be in shadow. These are designers, arrangers and representatives of other creative professions who spend their days and nights thinking and creating real masterpieces. It is important that the award also includes prize money. Winners of the prizes deserve it. They are full of enthusiasm for their work. Like others they also have problems including those with equipment for their “creative laboratories”. I am sure that these people will purchase equipment or something else that solves most of their problems and improves their professional skills”, stated Rustam Madumarov.

The nominations “Most creative advertisement on national TV” and “Best TV-design” promoted those who used to create people’s images and popularized them. The authors of preview trailer for “Style.uz” Design and Fashion Week and designers of “TV-Markaz” were awarded a prize.

Radio staff was not off attention. Dilmurod Gulomov from “Uzbegim taronasi” radio channel won the nomination “Best radio presenter”.

The nominations for “Best TV project” and “Best TV presenter of the year” were also included in the program. The authors of the modern program “Yulduzli payshanba” (Star Thursday) from “TV-Markaz” won these nominations. Beautiful TV presenter Tatyana Polonskaya‘s experience and charm helped her to be the first among her competitors, though her program “Stat blizhe” (To be closer) which has been broadcasted on Uzbek TV for 11 years. Galina Melnikova presented the prize to her. It turned out that Galina Vasilyevna, the legend of Uzbek TV was celebrating the 50th anniversary of her activity in television. Her colleagues congratulated her and gave her a wonderful bunch of flowers and a present and the hall applauded.

Another nomination “Best show of the year” united three different trends. Rayhon’s solo concert, awarding ceremony of “Tarona” national music prize and “Style.uz” Design and Fashion week could be recognized as the best shows of 2006 but judges and audience considered “Style.uz” to be the best project. The week of Uzbek design and fashion was an extraordinary event which was highly appreciated by visitors and specialists of Russian fashion business and other foreign guests. Then the even was discussed both in Uzbekistan and overseas.

The most striking moment of the ceremony was awarding the nomination “For contribution to the development of native culture and entertainment art”. Moscow guest Lolita Milyavskayaa— a star of Russian variety art was on the stage to award this nomination. After an exciting pause which held the breath of hall, Lolita called the winner’s name. Chairwomen of Trusteeship Council and author of all projects Fund “Forum of culture and art of Uzbekistan” Gulnara Karimova won the nomination “For contribution to the development of native culture and entertainment art”. Here the audience was expected another surprise because the winner passed her prize to a representative of Fund “Forum of culture and art of Uzbekistan”, stating that it belonged to the staff.

An expressive and alive concert of Lolita was organized after the official part of ceremony.

“It can be clearly seen that the award has successfully started”, noted Sarvar Rahmatullayev, Director-general of “Tarona Records” and member of jury. “It was organized by such important institution as Fund “Forum of culture and art of Uzbekistan” which has done a lot in culture and art. Judging by Fund’s activity in implementing projects, we can say that “Music & Television Arts Award” has a long life. After all, such prizes make a great contribution to the development of art and stimulate person’s creation”.

The ceremony of non-governmental “Music & Television Arts Award-2006” made a history. The prize was awarded for the first time but has already confirmed its high status and prestige. Certainly, it will play great role in further development of Uzbek culture and art.