Blind singer makes it to Chutney Monarch finals

BLIND SINGER Asha Kamachee, of St Helena Village, Piarco, has qualified for this year’s National Lotteries Classic Chutney Soca Monarch finals. Kamachee was one of 32 singers who appeared before the judges at the semi-finals on Saturday night at  Rienzi Complex, Couva. No stranger to the chutney stage, Kamachee sent the crowd into a frenzy when she delivered her tune, “Sweet Chutney Music.” She called on the crowd to dance and free up and enjoy the Carnival season. She placed among the top three in the semi-finals, beating last year’s champ, Heeralal Rampartap. After witnessing the performances of 32 top singers, the judges chose 15 for the finals carded for February 11 at Skinner Park, San Fernando. This event, which is one of the major chutney shows produced by Southex Promotions of San Fernando for Carnival each year, was well attended.

Among those who will be battling for the top prize of $100,000 are: Heeralal Rampartap, Rooplal Girdharie, Anil Suchit, Davindra Ramdass, Joel Davis, Lall Bharat, Mohip Poonwassie, Omardath Maharaj, Rasika Dindial, Asha Kamachee, Carlene Wells, Kenneth Supersad, Lynn Khan, Ravi Bissembhar, and Surendra Ramoutar. Both Heeralal and Rooplal won the competition in previous years. The two gave energetic performance as they did their new compositions: “Di Meh Family” and “Dholak Bajawe” respectively.

According to reports coming out of Southex’s office, the women took the top three spots in the semi-finals. Southex CEO George Singh said Carlene Wells, Rasika Dindial and Asha Kamachee topped the competition on Saturday night. Wells who appeared on stage well after midnight, had the crowd jumping with her tune, “Mocoo Meh Women.” However, it was Dindial who stole the show as everyone was dancing to her tune, “Matikoor Night.” The singer came on stage at 1.30 am to the beat of the tassa rhythm by members of the resident band, JMC Triveni.

Notably absent from this year’s competition were TT’s top chutney stars Adesh Samaroo and Drupatie Ramgoonai. The two singers have captured top prizes at this competition in previous years. Samaroo who was a guest performer at the show on Saturday night revealed that he was not entering the competition this year saying that he had already signed contracts for overseas performances on the designated dates for the monarch competition. He told the cheering crowd that he regretted not being on the competitive stage this year. Reports from Southex indicate that Ramgoonai was scheduled to send her music for the competition but never did.

The chutney diva could not be reached for comment on her absence from the local stage for this year’s Carnival season. Southex made the announcement that Machel Montano, will be part of the opening act in the finals at Skinner’s Park. Singh said this year special emphasis will be placed on the lyrical content of compositions. Among those who entertained the crowd at Rienzi Complex were members of the band TTEC Gayatones Orchestra, JMC Triveni with Sarika Mahabir, and Dil-E-Nadan with Raymond and Rennie Ramnarine. This year’s competition is estimated to cost $1.3 million.