Some $2 million in prize money will be up for grabs at the inaugural finals of the National Chutney Monarch Competition.
National Chutney Foundation of T&T (NCFTT) head Dr Vijay Ramlal Rai said the new competition comes off on February 10 at the Mid Centre Mall, Chaguanas, and is free to the public.
He said the competition will be split into two parts this year—the Intellectual Chutney Category, where the finalists will have to sing one song, and the Traditional Chutney Category, where finalists will have to use the traditional instruments such as the dholak, dhantal and harmonium to perform one song using Hindi, Bhojpouri and some English. He said a drum machine is also permitted in this category.
The event is scheduled to start at 6 pm.
Ramlal Rai said, “This is the first time we are having a Senior Intellectual Chutney Monarch competition. We started with a school’s intellectual chutney monarch in 2012 and this year we decided to introduce the senior level. The Junior Intellectual Monarch is still on, we have partnered with the Ministry of Education and that competition is carded for February 7 at the Queen’s Park Savannah.”
He added, “In the intellectual rounds, we have Nailah Blackman and Nisha B, who will team up and give their best to the judges. Crazy and Aaron Duncan would also be taking part in the intellectual rounds. In the traditional segment, we have seasoned artistes as Rakesh Yankarn, Dubraj Persad and Devand Gattoo. We expect the show to be a grand one. There are plenty of artistes who will deliver on that night.”
Finalists in the Intellectual Chutney Category
(1) Nailah Blackman/Nisha B
(2) Aaron Duncan
(3) Edwin Ayoung (Crazy)
(4) Mohip Poonwasie
(5) Paris Coutain
(6) Edward Ramdass
(7) Ramdeen Falco Maharaj
(8) Anthony Batson
(9) Bethany Trinity Lightbourne
(10) Greg Jaimungul
Finalists in the Traditional Chutney Category
(1) Rakesh Yankaran
(2) Davanand Gattoo
(3) Anthony Batson
(4) Prince Navin Praboo
(5) Ramesh Basdeo
(6) Dubraj Persad
(7) Amarnath “Jadoo” Maharaj
(8) Sunil Ramsundar
(9) Naresh Praboo
(10) Lochan Ragoobir