Legendary Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar scored a hat trick at the Sangeet Awards held at the Royal Albert Hall.

He picked up the awards for Best Lyrics in the Indi-pop and film music categories for Oh Sahibaa and the blockbuster film Kal Ho Naa Ho respectively and achieved the Best Lyrics award in the critic's category. Distinguish mainstream and Bollywood music director A.R Rahman of Bombay Dreams claimed honours for Best Musical Director for Yuva and Best Music Arranger (critics award) for Yeh Rishta in the film Meenakshi.

Best Male Pop Singer went to the eclectic Shankar Mahadevan. Twenty-one year old Sunidhi Chauhan picked up her 267th award for Best playback female singer. The Legend Honours Award was awarded to Anandji of Kalyanji - Anandji fame.

The Sangeet Awards welcomed the glitterati of Bollywood as they sashayed down the red carpet. Aishwarya Rai dazzled the audience as she launched Sahara One.

Footballer's Wives beauty Laila Rouass, Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan, Monsoon Wedding actress, Vasundhara Das, A-list actress Sameera Reddy, the ravishing Yana Gupta, Malaika Arora, heartthrob Fardeen Khan and critically acclaimed actress Shabana Azmi. were amongst over 160 celebrities in attendance at the event, which attracted fans UK-wide.

Other stars in attendance included Bride and Prejudice director Gurinder Chadha, legendary director Ramesh Sippy, renowned music directors Anu Malik, Nadeem-Shravan, Jatin-Lalit, Annad Raj Anand, playback singers Alka Yagnik, Ila Arun, Jaspinder Narula, Reno Fernandes, pop singers Alisha Chinoy, Ali Azmat, Bali Brambhatt, Sunita Rao, Saapna Mukherji, choreographers Farah Khan and Shiamak Davar and lyricist Sammer.

Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan performed Man Aisa Kyun Hoon from smash-hit movie Lakshya to a feverish reception. Czechoslovakian model Yana Gupta stunned the crowd with a sexy performance of All That Jazz from Chicago.

Sameera Reddy set the stage alight with an elaborately choreographed dance sequence featuring dancers from the world-renowned Shaiamak Davar dance troupe, whilst the Rishi Rich Project featuring Jay Sean and Juggy D brought younger members of the audience to near hysteria with their live fusion of bhangra and hip-hop.

The winners of the 2004 Sangeet Awards, supported by Sahara Manoranjan are as follows.

Best Lyrics

Javed Aktar: Kal Ho Naa Ho from the film Kal Ho Naa Ho

Best Playback Singer - (Male)

Babul Supriyo: Hum Tum from the film Hum Tum

Best Playback Singer - (Female)

Alka Yagnik: Hum Tum from the film Hum Tum

Best Music Director

A R Rahman: Yuva

Best New Voice

Ali Azmat: Garaj Baras from the film Paap

Best Song

Lagan Lagi from the film Tere Naam (Sajid - Wajid)

Legend Honour Award

Anandji of Kalyanji - Anandji fame.

Most popular choice award

Jatin Lalit for the soundtrack Hum Tum

INDI-POP NOMINATIONS

Avadhoot Gupte: Meri Madhubala

Best Lyrics

Ajay Jhingran: Kaise Kahoon Main (Kaise Kahoon)

Best Pop Singer - (Male)

Lucky Ali: Kabhi Aisa Lagta Hai

Best Pop Singer - (Female)

Ritu Singh Vaidya: Sun Zara

Best Pop Group

Aasma: Aasma

Best Song

Aksaar: Shaan

CRITICS AWARDS: Best Sound Recordist; Khuda Hafiz - Yuva (H. Sridhar & S. Sivakumar); Best Music Arranger; Yeh Rishta - Meenaxi (A.R. Rahman); Best Music Programmer; Aisa Jadoo - Khakhee (Ram Sampat); Best Lyrics; Seemayen Bulayen Tujhe - LOC Kargil (Javed Akhtar); Best Music Director; Yuva (A.R. Rahman)