Bollywood Awards to reach 270 million viewers

With over 270 million viewers worldwide in over 90 countries, the Eighth Annual Bollywood Music Awards will be aired from the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain, from 8 pm.

As CL Finan-cial’s successful subsidiary Radio 90.5 FM celebrates its eighth anniversary, the station will bring to its loyal and fervent family of listeners the ultimate experience in Indian entertainment — the king of award shows in India and the link of Indo-Trinidadians to their ancestral land.

This powerful and internationally anticipated event has rocked the likes of the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New York City, Dubai, India and the UK. Now the most prestigious awards ceremony of the Indian music and motion picture industry comes to Trinidad!

There will be spectacular performances from ten of India’s most famous performers and play- back singers, including Kumar Sanu, Sunidhi Chauhan, Udit Narayan, Babul Suprivo, Shankar Mahadevan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Anuradha Sriram, Jaspinder Narul, Amir Jamal and a surprise guest artiste. Some of them are nominees in the Awards, so the excitement is even greater as they anxiously await the results.

The Bollywood Music Awards pays tribute to the artistes of the Indian music arena with special emphasis placed on the film songs genre. The music of the movies is what boosted its appeal and made the movies! It is what the Indian emigrants use as a link, as their bond to their land of origin. Indian music especially that of the films, is the glue that holds the Indian communities - local and international together.

CL Financial recognises this and through its establishment of Radio 90.5 FM, came to appreciate it as well. So as the parent company forms other alliances with India, including the establishment of a distribution company for Angostura; the involvement in the formation of another steel company coming out of India; and the development of Trinidad as a film production location for Indian motion pictures, they were thrilled at the prospect of offering this to the people of Trinidad and the region.

It is the beginning of a bridge they are building to forge the booming economies of Trinidad and India. It is also part of CL Financial’s commitment to cultural development in Trinidad and Tobago and it follows closely the Tobago Jazz Festival, which the company single-handedly put together with artistes such as Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole and India Arie; and plan to do again come April 2006.

Radio 90.5 FM has been supporting Indian culture since its inception in 1997 and has successfully extended its activities to include a wider section of the population. The annual Kite Flying Competition has become a national event. As well, the Family Day and Annual Cookout are patronised by a mix of citizens. The Divali Mangalam which 90.5 hosts is the largest gathering for a prayer service put on by a corporate entity.

Radio 90.5 FM has become a respected company through its ties with its audience. Year round there are charity drives, individual fund-raising projects, fun competitions for the children, sponsorship of many Indian concerts and events and other activities that make the station, one committed to helping the listernership; devoted to the development of Indian culture and the advancement of the people; a family station, a tangible station, "the people’s station"!

The 2005 Bollywood Music Awards will offer local performers an invaluable opportunity to interact on stage with the Indian artistes that they model themselves and their music after. For some performances the full band of musicians coming out of India will be accompanied by local orchestras.

Indian music listeners will peak with satisfaction on December 3, as they soak in the spectacular performances of India’s most famous artistes. 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 call: 645-8083 or 622-9075. For further information visit www.bollywoodmusicwards.com.