Titans converge on iEmmies jury

If some of the best channels and production houses miss their head honchos this Thursday, don't be surprised. Some of the biggest names on the Indian television horizon will be converging at the Taj Land's End in Mumbai to shortlist nominees for two categories of the International Emmy awards, Asia/Africa region. The judging process for the two categories - comedy and non-scripted entertainment - is being done for the first time in Mumbai, organised by Indiantelevision.com. And putting their heads together for the selection of the finalist entries are veteran TV actor and producer Jaaved Jaaferi, Nimbus MD Dr Akash Khurana, MTV India VP Cyrus Oshidar, comedy scriptwriter Ashwini Dheer, among others. At a media conference held on Tuesday to announce the judging round, the jurors present expressed happiness at being part of an event that marks a milestone for the television industry here. Jaaved Jaaferi was his usual ebullient self, while the suave Dr Khurana said he expected '[to have a lot of fun during the judging process, and look forward to seeing what different countries have to offer.' The jury is as varied as it can get. R D Tailang, scriptwriter of TV successes like KBC, will be scrutinising the entries along with Zee's programming head Ashwini Yardi, BAG Films' Anurradha Prasad, Sony's programming VP Tarun Katial along with Jaaferi, Khurana, Oshidar and others. For those not clued in, the International Emmy Awards honour shows made outside the US. Once the semi final judging has been completed in Mumbai three entries will be chosen for the grand finale which will take place in New York in November.