Local acts for Bollywood awards

THE 2005 Bollywood Music Awards will offer local performers an invaluable opportunity to interact on stage with the Indian artistes whom they model themselves and their music after. For some artistes,  the full band of musicians coming out of India will be accompanied by local orchestras. The CLICO Shiv Shakti dancers will perform alongside the most popular and famed Indian dance groups. The locals will be exposed to the international media, a move long-awaited and desperately needed for their growth. The Eight Annual Bollywood Awards coincides perfectly with Radio 90.5 FM’s Eight Anniversary, and more importantly it comes at a time when there is an explosion of Indian culture in Trinidad. The once dying local Indian film industry is now booming; the India formatted radio stations make up 25 percent of the national radio audience; an average of four international Indian shows a year, and an amazing amount of smaller local shows.

Indian music listeners will peak with  satisfaction on December 3 — they will reach that pinnacle as they soak in the spectacular performances of ten of India’s most famous performers and play-back singers, including Kumar Sanu, Sunidhi Chauhan, Udit Narayan, Babul Supriyo, Shankar Mahadevan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Anuradha Sriram, Jaspinder Narul, Amir Jamal and a surprise guest artiste. Some of artistes are nominees for the awards, so the excitement will be even greater as they anxiously await the results. The logistics of the event are on par with international standards. Director Tarun Chopra and his crew will create an atmosphere that has never been experienced on our soil. The stage is of majestic magnitude — 120 x 80 feet, a stage that size has only ever been constructed for our national Carnival celebrations. Seating for the event has been carefully planned and will be managed by competent ushers in all sections. Security measures will be so tight this will befitting for the government ministers and diplomats who will be in attendance. Parking facilities are more than adequate and will be easily available.

CL Communications CEO Anthony Maharaj has been a part of the Indian film and music industry in Trinidad since it began. He was involved in the promotion of Indian concerts from as far back as the days of Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar; he worked closely with the Mohammed family in the production of local Indian talent show Mastana Bahar since the 1970s; he was the regional distributor for major Indian motion pictures that brought about the rebirth of the local East Indian film industry, including 1942 A Love Story, Mohra and many others. For him it is the culmination of his involvement in the industry. He says: “It is a dream come true to have this held in Trinidad. I have been dreaming of putting this together for a long time because I believe today where we’re living in a global village there is no better way to communicate than through entertainment. India is a booming economy today so it is good for us to establish ties with India and India with us.” Both Trinidad’s High Commissioner to India and India’s High Commissioner to Trinidad are excited at the move by CL Financial and Radio 90.5 FM as they have both worked with the group and station on various projects, and recognise the value of staging it in Trinidad.

A few weeks ago Maharaj visited India to finalise the arrangements for the artistes, musicians, set designers and director. There he met with some of the performers who are so enthusiastic about the awards and coming to Trinidad that they have even proposed to participate in a Radio 90.5 FM Charity Cricket match to be held on December 2, 2005. Details of the place and time are to be announced. CL Financial and Radio 90.5 FM are proud to present to the people of TT and the region, the 2005 Bollywood Music Awards on December 3, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain. As the Bollywood Awards and Radio 90.5 FM celebrate their Eight Anniversaries, and as ten of India’s top performers share one stage for one night, it is guaranteed to be a night to remember!

Tickets are available at: Dollar Value Supermarkets — Montrose, Chaguanas; Atlantic Plaza, Point Lisas; Gasparillo; and Fyzabad; Praimsingh’s — Chaguanas and Curepe; Angie’s Puja Store — San Fernando and Penal; SNSR Food Centre — Princes Town; Sinanan Travel Service — Sangre Grande; Radio 90.5 FM — Valsayn; and Video Associates — Tragarete Road, Port-of-Spain. Online purchases may be made through www.radio90fm. com. For VVIP or VIP tickets please contact 868-645-8083 or 868-622-9075. For further information visit www.bollywoodmusicwards.com