Banks Chutney contenders bring their ‘A’ game
─ 9 advance to finals
DPI, Guyana, Monday, February 11, 2019
Nine contestants in the Chutney Song competition are moving forward to the finals after they went head-to-head with at the Bath Settlement Centre Ground in Region 5, on Sunday last.
Among the victorious, includes the lone female contender, Goonwattie Harrynarine, also called “Amrita” who emerged from an original group of 12.
Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), convenor Roshini Boodhoo-Persaud said while the contestants “laid it bare” for this round, those going forward will be saving the best for the finals. She noted the creativity and initiative taken by the contestants in the of props and back up dancers.
“I know for the semi-finals round they don’t usually bring their ‘A’ game; they save it for the finals. I was pleasantly surprised to see they all had backup dancers and the props demonstrate the fact that they put a lot of thought into their performances,” Boodhoo-Persaud explained.
She stressed that though three have been eliminated, it will be a difficult task for the judges since the contestants demonstrated great stage presence and received huge crowd participation.
Boodhoo-Persaud also reminded persons to come out and support the Chutney finals and also participate in the Duck Curry competition. “It is not just about the chutney competition and entertainment, we want to involve the community as well and the implementation of this [duck curry] competition is a great one, and I am looking forward to seeing a large crowd, much larger than previous years,” she added.
Those set to advance are Hamesh Rhyna called ‘Entertainer V Star’ with his song ‘My dreams’, Christopher Ramphal with his song ‘Sundar Larki’, Sasnaayan Hitnarayan, also called “Prince HTN” with his song ‘Love and Unity’, Arijit Singh with this ‘Ring on the lukanee’, Pooran Seeraj, a former Chutney Monarch with his song ‘GT Ladki’, Chandarpaul Nathoo with his ‘Mash 49’, Deonarine Balkissoon, also called “Nishal B” with his ‘I Proud to be a Guyanese’, Goonwattie Harrynarine, also called “Amrita” with her song “Dulaha Dulahin” and Steven Ramphal with his song ‘Rang ke bare’.
Finals for the Banks Chutney Monarch competition will be held on February 17 at the Anna Regina Community Centre.
The Chutney Monarch will take home $1M, while the runner-up will receive $600,000, those in third and fourth place will receive $400,000 and $200,000, respectively.
Neola Damon.
Images: Keno George.