19-YEAR-OLD WINS NAGAR TALENT CROWN

A 19-YEAR-OLD UWI Student pursuing a course in Public Sector Management has won the Teenaged Coca Cola Talent Contest at the 2003 Divali Nagar.

A dramatic performance on Monday night caused Kamala Budri of the deep south  to get the nod of the panel of judges as well as the  melodious devotional song that she rendered which also captivated the hearts of the large crowd. Proceedings went smoothly with Budri, who has now won the contest three years in a row, being presented with a cheque for $5,000 by Robin Maharaj, marketing manager of the sponsoring firm — Caribbean Bottlers Coca- Cola Company Limited The contest which saw twenty-four contestants competing for the title was indeed keen and exciting with a number of artistes coming close to the top, and as many experts thought, anyone could have been adjudged first.

Some members of the audience even thought that Shivana Ragoonanan, of St Helena, a student of St Augustine Girls’ High School,  who placed fourth beating a tenor pan (with the tune “Sor Son Pahalay”) should have placed higher. Placing a close second was Hema Balkaran, of Barackpore, whose rendition of “Satyam, Shivam, Sunderam,” with an appropriate stage presentation, receiving a prize of $2,500. In third spot was Vijanti Ramoutar (Holi Hain) who collected $1,500, and in fourth place was Shivana Ragoonanan — $1,000.

Of great significance was the performance of six-year-old dancing prodigy, Sharada Moosai, of Lopinot Road, Arouca, who was singled out for a fine performance on stage, and who received a Special  Prize of $1,000 from the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC). Pundit Deokienanan Sharma, president of the NCIC, thanked the sponsors for their interest in culture and hoped that their relationship with the Nagar would continue for many years to come. Robin Maharaj, marketing manager of Coca-Cola, said that his “firm is committed to the development of youths whether it is in educaion, culture or sports.” The Nagar comes to an end on October 23, with a fireworks display courtesy Clico.