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

Jay Sean

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 in Miami

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.”

RDB are up for the Best UK Asian Act and Best Band competing against other talented and chart topping bands like The Noisettes, N Dubz and JLS. RDB have been making and producing music over a decade fusing Bhangra, Garage music and most recently working with the world’s largest film industry ‘Bollywood’.

RDB were the first ever British Asian artists to grace the cover of the Invincible magazine in April 2009 which is the official music magazine distributed across the world. Jordan Kensington, C.E.O personally contacted the brothers to grace the front cover to celebrate their contribution to music and breaking moulds. The award ceremony is set to be another high profile star studded affair with a brand new category for the best British Asian Act which sees, Jay Sean, M.I.A, Khiza, Talvin Singh and RDB.

Surj from RDB said “We are thrilled at the news; It’s an honour that our work is getting recognised and we are pushing Asian music in the right way. It’s brilliant that the UMA’s have a category for British Asian Music”.

Jordan Kensington C.E.O added;

“The Urban Music Awards has always been the place to find out past, present and future rising stars. Always striving to be the multi-cultural melting pot for talent, the UMA’s are proud to also launch the Best Asian Music Act category to promote and increase the exposure and awareness for acts of Asian origin.

The Urban Music Awards will allow the millions of followers of music and musicians of Asian origin throughout the UK the opportunity to vote for their favourite Asian Music act to win this prestigious award.  Also, the launch of this new category will also give birth to the Desi UMA rising star competition. The competition will see entries from lesser known British Asian acts from all around the UK with the winner to be selected,  announced  an giving an opportunity to perform live  at the UMA’s next month”

The UMA’s take place on 1^st November 2009