MUMBAI: Music director Jatin Pandit has been awarded the fifth Annual FOSAAC Friends of South-Asian American Communities Award in Los Angeles.
The award is known to be one of the biggest South-Asian Awards. The theme for this year was celebrating the friendship between the United States and India and Jatin Pandit received the FOSAAC RD Burman Award for outstanding achievement in music and for composing the album America Mein India – a hit in the USA.
The award ceremony was held at the International Ballroom, Beverly Hilton Hotel in California USA. FOSAAC incidentally, raised $1 million for Hillary Clinton’s Presidential Campaign.
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On receiving the award, an ecstatic Jatin said, “I feel highly elated receiving this prestigious award amongst such a huge gathering. Being the first Indian composer to receive this award, I am touched that my work is now getting recognized on an International platform, thanks to FOSAAC.” Jatin also regaled the audience with the song Chand Sifarish from Fanaa to a loud applause.
The Kalpana Chawla Award for contribution to Society went to Maneka Gandhi, Anne Archer, and the Academy Award nominated actress for her role in Fatal Attraction was the received the Mother Teresa Award for Outstanding Contribution to Society. Whereas, Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson and many other voiceover artists of ‘The Simpsons’ were awarded the Mahatma Gandhi Award for Humanitarian of the Year.
Two-time Emmy award winner, ‘The Young and the Restless’ actress Michelle Stafford received the Sardar Vallabhai Patel Award for Outstanding Leadership, DNC Vice-Chair Mike Honda was awarded the Dalip Singh Saund Award for his Outstanding Political Contribution to Indo-American Society and Imran Khan, cricketer and philanthropist received the Mother Teresa award for Outstanding Contribution to Society.
The spectacular entertainment portion of the night’s festivities included wonderful performances by acts from both American and Indian Communities: musical performances by Jierra Clark, Michael Duff, and various musical selections played by violinist Andrea Hammond. In addition there were breath-taking performances by the Fire Groove troupe of Hollywood, and sensational songs & dances by Indian performers Noopur Dance Academy, and Rasalila.
The chief guests were Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa & Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy Baca – a rare occurrence to see both attending the same event. Orange County Supervisor Chris Norby was another Guest of the evening.
