London (PTI): Malkit Singh, legendary Punjabi pop singer has won the NRI Institute Excellence Award for 2008 for his contribution to popularising the traditional Bhangra at the international stage.

Lord Karan Billimoria, chairman of the UK-India Business Council presented the award at a glittering ceremony held at the Radisson SAS Portman Hotel here.

The citation said "today, the worldwide popularity of this folk music is entirely credited to his famous rendition of traditional Bhangra songs like 'Gur Nalo Ishq' and 'Tootak Tootak' - the songs that revolutionized Punjabi music forever."

He regaled the packed audience with his trade mark songs. Other recipients of the Excellence Awards included Lord Mayor Manjula Sood of Leicester, the first Asian female Lord Mayor in the United Kingdom.

Malkit Singh in past had been honoured by Queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham Palace with the award of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, a rare honour that defined his stature as a singer.

R Seetharaman, chief executive of Doha Bank won the Excellence Award for his outstanding performance in the banking sector in the Middle-East. He was adjudged the 'Banker of the year' in 2007. Addressing the gathering, prominent NRI Lord Billimoria said Indians had reached top positions in every fields, be it Parliament, sport, art and civil service globally.

He said, "There is genuine and mutual trust between UK and India and India and the NRIs." He expressed the confidence that India's future is very bright. Prominent dignitaries like Lord Iltaf Sheikh and Baroness Usha Varma were also present to grace the occasion.