Police officer Rooplal Girdharrie walked away with $200,000, a brand new Lancer car plus several other prizes yesterday morning when he retained his Chutney Soca Monarch title.
It marked a hat-trick for Girdharrie and the fifth time that he has won the competition in its 13-year history.
He also won the first prize of $50,000 in the Groovy Chutney category which formed part of the mammoth competition.
Girdharrie took home the lion's share of the $1 million prize in the competition held at Skinner Park, San Fernando with another five times winner Rikki Jai (Samraj Jaimungal) placing second in both categories.
Results were announced at 3.30 a.m. yesterday, after six hours of competition and entertainment by several guest artistes.
Moving up in the Chutney Soca contest was Soca Elvis who placed third, up four places from his seventh position last year. He was followed by Arti Butkoon, one of two female finalists, former chutney champion Adesh Samaroo, former winner Heeralal Rampartap, Neeshad Sultan, Rajin Dhanraj, Shelleika Hazel, Rick Ramoutar and Kenneth Seupersad. In the Groovy Chutney category Lalchan Babwah placed third with Rampartap in fourth position followed by Arnold Jordan and a three-way tie for sixth place among Samaroo, Ramoutar and Devika Ram. Neeshad Sultan placed seventh with Angela Ramoutar finished in eight position.
Girdharrie of Esperance Village, San Fernando sang "Crazy for you" and "Ayee sanjana pyaar" while Rikki Jai sang "Ley we go" and "Baharie". Rampartap sang "Aisay Waisay" and "Itioo ayee wo yo Yo."
Last year Girdharrie took home $200,000 from a total prize of $520,000.
Organisers of the competition, Southex Promotions this year added to the grandeur of the finals with several top artistes and leading orchestras performing.
Southex managing director George Singh said contestants were not spending enough time on their melody and lyrics.
He said, "Something will have to be done to assist Chutney soca artistes in composing songs and putting them to melody."
The evening however, belonged to Michael Salickram, leader of the Shiv Shakti Dancers who choreographed a spectacular opening act and came back during the interval between Groovy Chutney and Chutney Soca with a dramatic enactment. His troupe took the stage posing as legendary foreign as well as local singers. They impersonated the singers and made the local chutney legends look good by throwing in a bit of theatre amidst the contestants and their colourful portrayals.
The Groovy Chutney category was introduced for the first time this year. It features a slower beat to the chutney soca songs.
Tassa featured prominently in the night's entertainment along with the N 9 dancers, Anil Bheem, Gayatones Indian Ochestra, 3 Veni and Dil-e-Nadan.
Judges included George Maharaj, Ryan Romany, Reynold Bassant, Kapil Gayadeen, Zahir Khan, Prakash Ramadhar, Indira Mahatoo and Joy Caesar.
