Snakes alive! What a night for Jay and the other AMA stars

It was a night to remember, for an exuberant audience, for those who performed live, for award winning artists – but above all for R&B singer Jay Sean, who added four awards to his recent achievement in topping the US charts.

The occasion was of course the 2010 Asian Music Awards at the Royal Festival Hall, broadcast on March 17 on BBC1 television.

Jay Sean, 26, born in Hounslow in the UK but now spending most of his time in the States, won all four titles for which he was nominated including best male performer and best album.

Rivals for the best male title were Imran Khan, Jaz Dhami and Mumzy Stranger and Dhami and Khan featured strongly in a slickly produced and varied show featuring dancers and multimedia backdrops.

Dhami opened proceedings in a striking white suit but later Khan went one better by singing with what the audience gradually realized was a live snake draped around his shoulders! “You have to do something different to stand out in the industry and I did it,” Khan told the BBC.

Other headliners were Malkit Singh and, a welcome surprise, the Sugababes, along with Punjabi DJ stars RDB (pictured in Miami, lucky boys) who blend western genres with traditional Punjabi beats and vocals.

RDB showcased all their Bollywood anthems from Singh is Kinng to their grand finale Om Mangalam from Khambahkht Ishq.

They also gave the audience an exclusive preview of ‘Khuda’, a track from their forthcoming album, ‘Worldwide,’ described as a romantic ballad with a baseline twist.

The full list of this year’s winners reads:

Best Album - Jay Sean, All Or Nothing. Other Nominees - Des-C, First Flight; Imran Khan, Unforgettable; Jaz Dhami ,JD; Sukshinder Shinda, Collaborations 2.

Best Female Act – Amar. Other Nominees - Hard Kaur, Karen David, Natasha Khan (Bat For Lashes), Sophia Choudhury.

Best Male Act – Jay Sean. Other Nominees - Imran Khan, Jaz Dhami, Mumzy Stranger, Navin Kundra.

Best Alternative Act – Natasha Khan (Bat For Lashes). Other Nominees – Engine Earz, Navin Kundra, Niraj Chag, Shiva Soundsystem.

Best Club DJ – DJ H. Other Nominees - DJ Kayper, DJ Vix, Jags Klimax, Panjabi MC.

Best Newcomer – JK. Other Nominees - Young Archie Assignment, Aron B.

Best Producer - Sukshinder Shinda. Other Nominees - Aman Hayer, Rishi Rich.

Best International Act – Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. Other Nominees -Kaka Bhaniawala, Miss Pooja, Outlandish, Roach Killa.

Best Desi Act – Des-C, Imran Khan. Other Nominees - Jaz Dhami, Malkit Singh, Sukshinder Shinda.

Best Urban Act - Jay Sean. Other Nominees - AG Dolla, Mumzy Stranger, Sef Naqui, ZeeKay.

Best Radio Show – Nihal – Radio 1. Other Nominees - Friction with Bobby Friction – BBC Asian Network; Mr Kay – Buzz Asia; Neev – Kiss 100;  Asian Network Chart with Noreen – BBC Asian Network.

Best Video – Jay Sean, Down. Other Nominees - Imran Khan, Amplifier; Mumzy Stranger, Showgirl; Sef feat D-Boy & Des C, Need A Hero (Remix); Sukshinder Shinda, Ghum Suhm.

Best International Album - Miss Pooja, Romantic Jatt. Other Nominees – Outlandish, Sound Of A Rebel; Adnan Sami, Ek Ladki Deewani Si; Bohemia, Da Rap Star; Jaswinder Daghamia,Yaar Nai Labhde.

Outstanding Achievement – Biddu.

Commitment to Scene – Talvin Singh.

Jay Sean, pictured with one of his four awards, revealed in a BBC interview that he was working with one of the R&B and soul??? greats, who had agreed to guest on his next single.

“I’ve recently done a collaboration with Mary J Blige,” he said. “It was incredible and we are shooting the video in London on Friday.”