Dil-E-Nadan takes lion’s share of 103FM awards

The band’s lead singer Raymond Ramnarine won Best Male Artiste. Other awards that went to Ramnarine and Dil-E-Nadan were Song of the Year and Album of the Year for Chutney Farm, Best Lyricist (O Basanti), Best Cover Version (Jabse Tere Naina), Best Produced Album, Best Chutney Soca Album by a Local Band. A Special Recognition Award went to the original leader of the band, Ramnarine Tole Moonilal.

Unfortunately, on Ramnarine’s big night, he had to remain at home nursing a sore throat and fever, so his brothers Richard and Rennie Ramnarine collected the awards.

Other award winners were Nisha Bissembhar from the band Karma, who was named Best Female Artiste and Best Chutney Artiste. Her brother Anil Bissembhar won the CNMG’s Best Arranger award for “Kama Sutra”.

Musical director and leader of Melobugz, Rishi Mahatoo, CNMG’s Best Engineered Song award for “Tere Ore”, as well as Best Cover Version for “Taare Vasatey”.

Singer Anil Bheem took home the award for Best Bhajan for “Hum Pranaam Say”. Winner of the award for Best Chutney Soca Collaboration was Neshan “Hitman” Prabhu with “Bring D Rum”. Rajin Dhanraj’s “Go Nah” was named Best Music Video, Satnarine Ragoo won the award for Best New Recording for “Don” and Rick Ramoutar won the Courts Trini Hit award for “Rhona”.

Also honoured were the nine latest inductees in 103 FM’s Hall of Fame. Among those recognised for their contributions to the development of art and culture in TT were the late Easat Indian classical singer Prem Gangoo Sharma, dancer Indira Mahatoo, The Sawh Family, Girly Bunsee, musician Ramnarime Tole Monilal and broadcaster Hans Hanoomansingh. Cultural activist Surujdeo Mangaroo was given special recognition and the Beharry Family of Princes Town was honoured for Cultural Expressions.

The ceremony started promptly at 6.30 pm with Satnarine Ragoo doing a film medley accompanied by the TTEC Gayatones Orchestra and members of the bMobile Shiv Shakti Dance Company. Other guest artistes included Anil Bheem, Rick Ramoutar Artie Butkoon and Kavita Maharaj.