/> Best Soundtrack [Winner: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy (Rock On), Runners Up: Race (Pritam)]
The music of 'Rock On' was unique. It wasn't just about 'gelling into the narrative'; it was actually about 'being the narrative' itself!

In fact it won't be wrong to state that if Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Javed Akhtar wouldn't have created the soundtrack of 'Rock On', it wouldn't have been the movie it is today. And this is where the strength of the music lies.

Going truly by the genre of the movie and elevating the mood created by the situations and the characters, the music 'rocked' and how!

Best Male Playback [Winner: K.K. (Khuda Jaane - Bachna Ae Haseeno), Runners Up: Rashid Ali ('Kabhi Kabhi Aditi Zindagi - JTYJN)]
K.K., the man for all seasons, has hardly 'not been terrific' in most of his songs. Until and unless a tune is really uninspiring, KK is always in mood to bring on an extra something to a song. 'Khuda Jaane' was one such song.

Aided by some cool composition from Vishal-Shekhar, KK made it even more special by coming up with a rendition that made it THE best song of the year gone by.

It may not have reached the kind of height that it deserved but nevertheless made a huge impression to be hailed as one of the few true blue romantic numbers of 2008.

Best Female Playback Playback [Winner: Shruti Pathak (Mar Jaava (Fashion)), Runners Up: Shilpa Rao (Khuda Jaane - Bachna Ae Haseeno)]
Now how many songs have really boasted of being an authentic ramp/lounge numbers in Bollywood? One could possibly count them on fingers and still not manage to find even five.

In this respect, 'Mar Jaava' truly scores and the credit must go to Shruti Pathak, who in spite of being a new kid on the block took it upon her to sing the anthem number of 'Fashion' with much aplomb.

She was fantastic in the song and is deservingly the recipient of 'Best Female Playback Singer' award. Here is wishing to hear much more of her in months to come.

Best Lyricist [Winner: Jaideep Sahni (Haule Haule (RNBJD)), Runners Up: Abbas Tyrewala (Kabhi Kabhi Aditi Zindagi (JTYJN))]
Simplicity always works. And when poetry is added to it, which becomes successful in getting on to everyone's lips, it can be said that the song has done it's job.

This is what happened in case of 'Haule Haule' that didn't take much time to become the favorite of the season and instead of making a 'haule haule' impression, it saw a move up in the popularity charts sooner than later.

Jaideep Sahni demonstrated how a song could be written keeping in mind a small town setting, it's ambience, it's culture and it's people. This one truly projected Shah Rukh Khan in a different light altogether and succeeded!

Best Song [Winner: Khuda Jaane (Bachna Ae Haseeno), Runners Up: Haule Haule (RNBDJ)]
A highly underrated song, 'Khuda Jaane' composed by Vishal-Shekhar was indeed an exceptional song and though it was clearly a winner in the first couple of listening itself, it took a brilliant turn once it was heard a few more times.

An instant chartbuster material, this number was elevated further due to some cool picturisation, exotic locales, much visible chemistry between the lead couple (Ranbir Kapoor-Deepika Padukone), some fascinating camerawork, Anita Dutt Guptan's relatable lyrics and of course excellent rendition by K.K. and Shilpa Rao. A complete package deal!

Best Choreographed Song [Winner: Tha Karke (Golmaal Returns), Runners Up: Azeem O Shaan Shahenshah (Jodhaa Akbar)]
All the crores spent in 'Tha Karke' seemdd justified when this item song was seen on the big screen in it's full length version.

Featuring it's 'Golmaal' men Ajay Devgan, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor and Shreyas Talpade along with Kareena Kapoor and hundreds of background dancers, with fireworks and special effects adding on to the grandeur, this was an unabashed item song at it's best.

No one from the film's cast or crew made any bones about 'Tha Karke' being added to the narrative purely as a publicity gimmick and to add to their confidence, it worked as well. Rich and striking in appeal, 'Tha Karke' is one number that instantly got 'Golmaal Returns' it's audience.

Best Music Video [Winner: Race Saanson Ki (Race), Runners Up: Move Your Body Now (Kismat Konnection)]
In the times when an 'end credits/opening credits' music video is a norm rather than an exception, it is just befitting to introduce a category for the 'Best Music Video'.

In this context, the title track of 'Race' wins hands down as it set the pace for the movie when it was unleashed a couple of months before it's release. Featuring the entire case of the film (Anil Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Bipasha Basu, Akshaye Khanna, Katrina Kaif and Sameera Reddy), it was cutting edge with a mystery element to it.

It may not have been heavy on dance moves but carried a classy appeal with a distinct Abbas-Mustan touch to it. There was also a 'film version' that featured Saif-Bipasha but the music video clearly wins hands down.