India’s 32 station network Radio Mirchi has started screening hundreds of songs as it prepares to shortlist the top five in each category of the 6th edition of Mirchi Music Awards.

A screening panel comprising some well known faces and voices from Indian music and film industry met in Mumbai recently.

They include Akbar Sami, Abhishek Ray, Shibani Kashyap, Bishwadeep Chatterjee, Jitu Shankar, Anand Sharma, Abhijeet Sawant, Sona Mahapatra, Kannan (K) Mohan and Vidya Shah.

Jury member K. Mohan of Indian rock band Agnee said, “It is difficult to listen to so many songs and select just five in each category. Surprisingly there were many songs in Rock Ballet category. I am glad that there has been recognition to the genre.”

Prashant Panday, Executive Director and CEO, ENIL, the group behind Radio Mirchi said, “These awards follow the most stringent process to arrive at the results. This year has been fabulous for the hindi music industry with a lot of upcoming and promising talents. The 6th edition promises to get bigger and grander.”

After the screening jury, a grand jury will meet on January 22 to decide the winners.

The awards will be held mid February.