‘Hero’ Heeralal captures Chutney title

The reigning Chutney Soca Monarch, Heeralal ‘Hero’ Rampartap captured yet another crown for 2003. Once more he emerged winner of the National Chutney Foundation of TT’s (NCFTT) monarch competition last Saturday evening at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, winning the top prize of $100,000. Heeralal who is also the NCFTT 2002 reigning monarch, thrilled the audience with his traditional Chutney tune, “Tap Tap Jhulaana” and his social commentary tune, “Rise Up Children Rise Up.” Also, in winners’ row were: Rakesh Yankaran who placed 2nd, Mohip Poonwassie was 3rd, Boodram Holass placed 4th and Drupatie Ramgoonai, 5th. His Excellency, President George Maxwell Richards, declared the  competition opened at 8.30 pm. In his speech to the estimated 7,000 people present at the competition, he said that Chutney is another of our emerging art forms that reminds us of the plural society that is Trinidad and Tobago. “Chutney can help us to define ourselves, if we permit. We may be able to recognise that which is peculiarly our own as distinct from what belongs to the Hawaiian Islands or Tahiti for example,” he said. He complimented the late Moean Mohammed for his contribution to the development of East Indian culture in TT.

“He blazed the trail and others have followed. We owe it to his memory, therefore, to keep alive the trust and add impetus as necessary, as we continue to craft a tapestry that displays the many facets of our cultural styles,” he said. President Richard was accompanied by his wife Dr Jean Richards. They both enjoyed the first half of the competition before taking leave.  Also present was Minister of Culture, Pennelope Beckles. Another notable performance was that of the reigning Pichakaree Champion, Poonwassie who came out with a knife stuck to his back. He impersonated opposition leader Basdeo Panday in his political commentary entitled, “Never Miss The Water Till The Well Run Dry.” Poonwassie sang about the political cloud when Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, Ralph Maraj and Trevor Sudama left the UNC while Basdeo Panday was Prime Minister. The foreign performers Bindu of India and Artical Dan of New York failed to impress the audience. Results of the competition were announced at 4.30 am yesterday.