MUMBAI: Nandita and Raghu Dixit were voted as favourite singers, while Kaviraj was adjudged favourite lyricist and Jinkemarina from Nanda Loves Nandita won the favourite song of 2008 at the SFM Kalaa Awards held on 24 January in Bangalore.

The Sun Network promoted FM venture Kal Radio, 93.5 SFM Karnataka hosted the Kalaa Awards 2008 in Bangalore, felicitating the favourite from the Kannada film's music industry.

While Hamsalekha, V Manohar, Rajesh Ramnath and Sadhu Kokila were given special awards for their contribution to the Kannada music industry, Gurukiran was conferred the covted Music Icon of 2008 award.

Daya Devaiah, Station Head (Karnataka) said This is one of many such achievements for SFM Karnataka. It is a privilege for us to host this first of a kind event where we felicitate the music icons of the Kannada film industry. With the continued support of the media and the industry we look forward to an exciting year ahead....

SFM Programming Head (Karnataka) Sathish Chandra P D said, I am so glad that the event was noticed and acknowledged by the Kannada Film's Music Industry. We will continue the tradition of giving out these awards to encourage the fresh new flood of talent rushing into our industry. On the same occasion we are honouring V Manohar and Rajesh Ramnath for composing music for 100 movies and also to Sadhu Kokila for being a complete all-rounder of the Kannada film and music industry. It is also our pleasure to felicitate Hamsalekha on this occasion for giving the Kannada film industry more than 300 popular movies....

The star lit evening witnessed all the starlets of Kannada film music industry. The awards had no nominations whatsoever and listeners had the freedom to choose the winners in five different categories; Favourite Male and Female Singer, Lyricist, Song and Music Director. Ramesh and Bhavya the listeners who had sent in maximum number of messages got the opportunity to felicitate the favourite male and female singer of the Year award on the occasion.

The day opened with Favourite Female Singer award to mark the National Girl Child Day announced by the government of India starting this year.

SFM will host a special program on radio by playing select songs of the winner's and their live interviews on air.