Asian Media Awards 2021 winners announced

The ceremony took place at the Emirates Old Trafford on Friday night (October 29) with Good Morning Britain’s Adil Ray, ITN’s Rohit Kachroo and Eastenders star Jaz Deol amongst the winners.

The University of Salford are premier partners at the event which this year was hosted by Sky Sports news presenter Bela Shah.

A special invitation was extended to the ten 2020 winners and tributes were paid throughout the night to all those who were unable to be at the awards after a tumultuous 18 months. Volunteers and community groups who had worked with AMA co-founder Umbreen Ali, who passed away last December following treatment for cancer, were invited to present awards on the night.

Jeevan Ravindran, a freelance journalist, was named the University of Salford Outstanding Young Journalist. She was presented the award by Paul Broster, Associate Dean (Student Experience).

The 23-year-old is a journalist and presenter whose work has been showcased across multiple platforms.

Jeevan said: “It’s not easy being a young South Asian journalist in the industry, and so often it can feel like there isn’t a place for us. Seeing the strides we’re making despite these barriers is so empowering and makes me all the more determined to fight for a more inclusive industry.

“The nominees in my category this year are such phenomenal journalists doing incredible work and I’m so honoured to be nominated alongside them.”

The Best TV Programme / Show honour on the night went to ‘My God, I’m Queer’.

Produced by Behind The Facade Films ‘My God, I’m Queer’ has been screened in England, Wales, Canada and India in 2020 and was also screened lived on Film4. 

Matt set up the Naz and Matt Foundation in memory of his soulmate and fiancé, Naz, who passed away two days after being confronted about his sexuality by his religious parents. It was the first time that they knew their son was gay, in a relationship with Matt for 13 years and that they were planning to get married.

The programme was directed by Matt Mahmood-Ogston and produced by Meera Mistry who collected the award.

Speaking to the audience Matt said: “Thank you to everyone who volunteered. This award is dedicated to everyone who can't be themselves because of the prejudice that exists in their family. We will never stop.”

The award was presented by Director of Film and Broadcast Media, Debra Prinselaar.

Adil Ray was named Media Personality of the year. In the past year the broadcaster took on one of UK television’s most high-profile roles as a host and presenter on Good Morning Britain.

Through his work both professionally and privately the past two years, Adil Ray has been at the forefront in challenging false narratives and speaking out wherever he felt there was an injustice.

Accepting the award he spoke passionately about how he always found it important in his career to ensure he helped others to reach the position he had. And it was very much about ‘sending the elevator back down’.

He said: “What I realised and it took me a while was that what Great Morning Britain (GMB) does for me and Lingo does is that it gives me a platform and that’s incredibly important. I remember what one of my favourite actors, Jack Lemon said. He talks of a very simple thing – you send the elevator back down.

“It was something that stuck with me. That’s what you have to do in this business and that is all that really matters.”

Awards were presented in 21 categories in Radio, Creative Media and stage. Bend it Like Beckham Actress Parminder Nagra was announced as the recipient of the Sopphiya Haque Services to TV & and Film  Award. Whilst Latila Ahmed a pioneer of British Asian TV in the sixties and seventies was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Media Award.

You can find a full list of awards winners here: https://www.asianmediaawards.com/asian-media-awards-2021-winners-announced/