MUMBAI: The third edition Pogo Amazing Kids Awards 2006 (PAKA) kicked off in Mumbai on 10 December crowning the winners with a trophy, citation and a child benefit policy worth Rs 5, 00, 000. The Pogo Kids Awards category recognises the extraordinary achievements of Indian kids across eight categories including Artist, Dancer, Entertainer, Musician, Leader, Sports, Genius and Singer.
The awards ceremony will be simulcast on Pogo and Cartoon Network on 17 December at 7:30 pm.
The final eight winners from the 24 finalists were decided upon based on votes received from kids across India. The twenty four finalists had been selected through detailed assessment by an executive jury comprising Kiran Bedi (for Leader), Shakuntala Devi (for Genuis), Shantanu Moitra (for Musician), Bose Krishnamachari (for Artist), Kunal Kohli (for Entertainer), Anita Ratnam (for Dancer), Charu Sharma (for Sports), Vasundhara Das (for Singer) and Derek O' Brien who judged all the categories with the panel.
The gala affair included performances by Bollywood super star Preity Zinta and Shaimak Davar's Junior Dance Company, as well as the talented finalists from this year's Awards.
Speaking on the occasion, Turner Entertainment Networks Asia, Inc (TENA) senior vice president and general manager Ian Diamond said, "Being a channel especially created for Indian kids, it is only befitting that Pogo salutes young achievers of this great nation. With Pogo Amazing Kids Awards providing these gifted children a platform to showcase their talent, we do hope that in some way we can become catalysts in their future success. I am glad that this year the final winners of POGO Amazing Kids Awards were chosen by kids themselves and there can be no greater success than by being recognised as truly amazing by one's own counterparts."
The winners of Pogo Amazing Kids Awards include:
Felicitated by Mona Singh, Pallavi Mazumdar from Kolkata won the Pogo Amazing Kid - Artist. Pallavi has won the National Balshree Award 2005 for Art. Her chef d'oeuvre also includes - winning 'Design a Stamp Contest' by Ministry of Communication and IT and a medal in the Asian Children Art Contest 2002.
Rajkumari Sanathoi from Imphal, Manipur, who is the winner of National Balshree Award 2004, was declared Pogo Amazing Kid - Dancer and was presented the award by Pogo hosts Chinu, Niall and Rob.
5 year-old Muskan Vijay from Gwalior was given the title- Pogo Amazing Kid - Entertainer by Anupam Kher. She has been under 11 Maharashtra Skating Champion and has also made a record by skating under 45 Tata Sumo cars.
13 year-old Akrit Jaswal from Chandigarh was crowned Pogo Amazing Kid - Genius by Ian Diamond. This young genius completed his primary education (class 10) at the age of 7. His achievements includes - conducting an independent surgery of post burn contracture of a burnt hand at 7, winning National Child Award for exceptional Achievement in the field of Medical Research in 2004. This little whiz kid is presently studying in his Second year, B Sc at Punjab University!!
Shravya M from Hyderabad received the Pogo Amazing Kid - Leader Award from Priya Dutt. Shravya is an active environmentalist bringing awareness about conservation of the environment.
K Sathyanarayanan from Chennai, was awarded Pogo Amazing Kid - Musician by Sivamani. This little Mozart has excelled Keyboard playing and completed grade eight from Trinity College of Music at the age of 10. Touring the world with 280 concerts, he has also released several albums and received various awards.
Aaron D'souza from Bangalore has not only won seven international awards in swimming but has also created seven national records. He received Pogo Amazing Kid - Sports Award by Manav Gohil.
While Vignesh Chandrashakhar from Chennai was selected by A R Rahman to sing "Yeh Tara Who Tara" in Swades. He was given the title - Pogo Amazing Kid - Singer by acclaimed singer Babul Supriyo.
In addition, Sudev N M from Chennai was chosen as the lucky winner of the Pogo Amazing Kids Awards 2006 Vote and Win contest' and was the winner of an exclusive, Dilip Chhabria custom designed car.
Ecouraging Indian kids to voice their choice, the Pogo Voice Awards yet again enabled children across India to choose their favourite celebrity icons amongst nominees in various award categories.
The winners of Pogo Voice Awards this year are Hrithik Roshan (Most Amazing Actor - Male, for Krrish), Priyanka Chopra (Most Amazing Actor - Female, for Krrish), Krrish (Most Amazing Film), Special Effects in Krrish (Most Amazing Moment in a film), Masti Ki Pathshala (Most Amazing Song, from Rang De Basanti), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ (Most Amazing Foreign Movie), Paresh Rawal (Most Amazing Comedian, for Phir Hera Pheri), and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Most Amazing Sports Hero, Cricket). Five lucky kids chosen out of 1, 23,000 votes won the fabulous opportunity of attending the in-studio grand finale of the Pogo Amazing Kids Awards 2006.
POGO Amazing Kids Awards this year boasts of an all new format with a nineteen episode series and for the first time, included audience interactivity nationwide. the show was hosted anchor/VJ Mini Mathur along with POGO anchors, Niall, Chinu and Rob. Derek O'Brien & Associates Pvt. Ltd, headed by quiz master Derek O'Brien who managed the entire selection and search process for Pogo Amazing Kids Awards 2006.
The sponsors for Pogo Amazing Kids Awards 2006 were Horlicks and Parle G (Presenting Sponsors), Kissan, Big Babol, Reynolds, Gini & Jony, Nestle Munch (Associate Sponsors) and Zee News, FUN Cinemas, Bright Advertising Agency (Media Partners).
