(Trinidad Express) Dethroned as Chutney Soca Monarch in February, entertainer Rikki Jai on Saturday night won the 50th anniversary Independence Chutney Soca Monarch finals.
Jai beat out nine other competitors at Skinner Park in San Fernando, including early favourites Kenneth Supersad, Drupatee Ramgoonai and this year’s Chutney Soca winner, Kris “KI” Persad, to win the TT$500,000 first prize.
Jai’s Independence tribute song was entitled “Mother Trinbago”.
With each artiste staging theatrical productions in support of their patriotic songs, Jai won the competition with lyrics that remembered the country’s 500-year history, its colonial past, slavery, indentureship and the diversity of its ethnic mix.
On hand to witness the finals were Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Dr Lincoln Douglas, Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, San Fernando Mayor Dr Navi Muradali and chairman of Caribbean Airlines, Rabindra Moonan.
The show was put on by Southex Promotions and the prize money was sponsored by the State.
The production got off more than an hour late and it was only at around 3 a.m yesterday that the winner was declared.
The crowd was only a fraction of what is witnessed at big Carnival shows. Some blamed the threat of rain and less-than-aggressive marketing for the poor turnout.
However, for Jai it turned out to be a double victory, since he also penned “Happy Independence” sung by second placed Sally Sagram.
Jai told the Express yesterday that both songs were produced by Zaheer “Big Rich” Khan.
He said it was a great feeling that his song, written with the help of calypsonian/ songwriter Barnet “Preacher” Henry, put him in winner’s row, and he was honoured.
Jai, who after winning the Chutney Soca title seven times and had promised to bow out of competitions, said he has been in the art form for 25 years.
He said, “I put a lot of me in developing the art form. Many would say come out and give the young people a chance. But if they want the title, it is a competition. I stayed out from 2003 to 2006 and is how you feel at the time.
“How you feel about yourself, your health and the fans dictate your pace. But I was very comfortable last night (Saturday) on stage given the short space of time to plan my performance.”
Jai said he was already preparing for next year’s Carnival season.
Sagram walked away with TT$250,000 for second and third went to Rooplal Girdharrie who won TT$150,000.
The other finalists each received TT$50,000.
