People’s choice
Sushma K Rao was selected by the people of Karnataka as their choice through televoting from among the five winners shortlisted by the jury.

“ The television awards are the twelfth in the series of monthly awards instituted by the Essel Group in Karnataka. Initiated in January 2007, the Group has so far recognized significant contributions by individuals and institutions to various fields,” said Dr M Gautham Machaiah, Vice President, Corporate and Public Affairs, Essel Group and Zee Network.

The Jury
The Jury headed by Justice R Ramakrishna, Retired Judge, Karnataka High Court comprised theatre personality and singer B Jayashree, G S Kumar, News Editor, The Times of India, Lakshmana Kodase, Assistant Editor, Prajavani; Dr Sa Shi Marulaiah, eminent writer; Dr R Poornima, Editor, Udayavani; V N  Subba Rao, President, Karnataka Media Academy; B Suresha, President, Karnataka Television Association and Ms Vinaya Prakash, Cine Star.

Achyutha Kumar bagged the Best Actor award for his role in Manthana; Sahagamana fetched M N Jayanth the Best Director award; B Suresha’s Naaku Thanthi was adjudged Best Serial and Pravin Godkhindi’s Raaga Ranjini was the Best Reality show.

M N Sethuram won an award for the best script for his Manthana, while Aparna N and Radhika Rani K were awarded for best anchoring and news casting respectively.