| – Dismal performances,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, mediocrity takes over By Neil Marks Rajesh Dubraj made it easy for the judges to hand him the $550,000 prize and the title of 2009 National Chutney Monarch Saturday evening, owing to a string of poor performances – one showing callous disregard for the massacre of 11 Lusignan residents just a year ago, another glorifying domestic violence, and oh, how the “rum” theme played on!Rajesh Dubraj, who has been on a losing streak for the past four years, performed a song that could have been easily knocked out in any professional competition that had a preliminary round – but then, there would not have been any competitors left. His song was titled something like “Zarah Dheray Se” but is unlikely to become popular. And Rajesh, who is a typical charismatic performer simply did not demonstrate that penchant.2K9 Chutney King Rajesh Dubraj The one-off competition was held at the Rose Hall, Canje Community Centre in Berbice.Owing to the entries, really, there should not have been a competition. What passed Saturday evening for a national competition championing the revival of the art form of chutney singing was an utter disgrace.Think of a countryside backyard event where no one puts any thought into what they are singing or the music, and where they are allowed to consume alcohol before singing and you’ll get the picture.The 2008 monarch Sandradai “Girlie” Persaud was in attendance but did not defend her crown. In a slight departure from her winning song ‘Rum is meh husband tea,” in a “special” performance she said rum was “her” tea, not her husband’s any longer, and she called on all the ladies who like to drink rum to put up their hands.It was quite ironic that the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony had said he refused the only sponsorship for the event because he did not want it to be an event where people just came out to “drink.” The Minister said he did not want the art form to be watered down, but that is just what happened, and to shocking proportions.You had one of the performers, Dennis Damar Singh, singing about the notorious “Fineman” gang that is largely held responsible for the massacre of 11 Lusignan residents last year January. It was nothing short of an outrage and insanity to the highest. It should not have been in the competition by whatever stretch of consideration was used to select the competitors.Then there was belly dancer Sandella Craig, who decided that she was going to trample on all the efforts to “stamp out” all forms of domestic violence by encouraging women to turnaround and beat their husbands who beat them. And she had backup performances dramatising her song “This Dulahin fighting back”. She won second place for that song and took home a whopping $350, 000. Sandella was last year judged the competition’s Most Promising Artiste.Haresh Singh, who used to be a good performer, faltered to his lowest with a song called “Cindy Girl,” but it was little wonder he could have delivered, having been seen in the ground drinking alcohol before his performance. Is there no place for standards in the organising of this event?And what was the Convenor of the competition Neaz Subhan doing talking to at least three of the judges and the Chief Judge when it came time to tally the final scores? Shouldn’t he have been barred from being anywhere near the judges table?But then again, the Chief Judge was Evan Persaud, who works closely with Subhan on the Indian Arrival Committee. We hope they were talking about the fact that the competition should not have been held and nothing else.Beesham Jairam, from Unity, Mahaica, was named the Most Promising Artiste and received a prize of $100, 000, double that which was previously announced. The others who were chosen for the competition need no mention, except for perhaps Levi Nedd. But we’re going to say a few things, nevertheless. Somebody, please tell Carlos “Lucky B” Williams to decide what he wants and stick at it – Chutney singing is an absolute NO for him. How is he doing as a fashion designer?The nice girl from Rosignol, Odranie Ramdial, should be told to keep at “chankaying curry” and don’t ever try singing again. And while she’s at the curry, she might as well try making roti. And what in the world possessed Danny Dhanasar to come out with a pink towel on his head, strapped down with a Kangol hat? Kamla Rampersaud asked to be left alone in her song, and the judges did exactly that.To top it off, after the first eight competitors were done, MC Raymond Azeez encouraged the audience to “gyrate” and, surely, there were opportunities for that when songs like “Dutty Wine” came on. Should this happen at a competition aimed at reviving the art form of Chutney singing?Oh, and to top it off, when the winners were announced, they celebrated on stage to that dancehall tune “Hot Wuk.” Total absurdity. |
