Dil-E-Nadan, JMC Trevini score at 103FM’s music awards

Popular local bands Dil-E-Nadan and JMC Trevini walked away with the top awards at the 2003 Music Award of 103 FM. The award and Hall of Fame ceremony took place at the Central Bank auditorium last Sunday afternoon. It brought many of the big names in music together on this rare occasion. In the end, Richard Ramnarine of Dil-E-Nadan and Veerendra Persad of JMC Trevini walked away with most of the awards. 

The band JMC Trevini took the award for Best Musical Arranger — Veerendra Persad; People’s Choice — Carlene Well’s “Mother-in-law Pressure,” which also won the Song of The Year title; Best Chutney Soca Album — Leadership 5; Best Lyricist —Ramdeen “Falco” Maharaj — “Mother-in-law Pressures.”  Richard Ramnarine of Dil-E-Nadan took the awards for Album of The Year — People’s Choice 2, bpTT Best Produced CD by a Local Band —People’s Choice 2, and Best Produced CD by a Local Producer. Among the dignitaries who were present for this function was Minister of Culture and Tourism, Pennelope Beckles who took the opportunity to present the host, 103 FM with a cheque for $15,000 to offset the cost of hosting this presentation. Other guests included Parliamen-tary Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development, Satish Ramroop; retired judge, Ralph Narine; the President of the National Council for Indian Culture, Deokinanan Sharma; President of the Hindi Nidhi Foundation, Chanka Seeteeram and chairman of 103 FM, Riaz Ahamad. 

Other artistes in winners’ row include Adesh Samaroo who took the award for Best New Artiste for his  song “Rum till i die.” Best Bhajan went to Pundit Krishen Ramdeen; Best Male Artiste — Rakesh Yankaran; Best Female Artiste — Rasika Dindial, Court Trini Hit  —Devanand Gatoo, and the 103 Special Recognition award went to Rishi Mahatoo who is leader of the band, SSL Melobugs of San Fernando. Those who were inducted into the Hall of Fame include Nau Jawan (orchestra), Sonny Mathews, Hanif Mohammed and Henry Toolum Dindial for classical singing. Instrumentists Harry Mahabir, Ahamad Khan and Chandar Bally were inducted into the Hall of Fame. For film song, Rhoda Asgaralli got her name in gold at the ceremony. In the category for Dance, Nizam Mohammed  received an award and got his name into the Hall of Fame.  103 FM also awarded three families who were instrumental in the development of East Indian music in the country. They include the Sookraj family of St Augustine, the Mohammed family of Mohammedville, San Juan and the Yankaran family of Freeport.