When Paramdai ‘Vanita’ Willie rocked a gold and red sari (her two favourite colours) to sing her original piece “Powah” and was eventually crowned the queen of chutney it was more than just a crown, but it was triumph after years of trying and overcoming difficult periods in her life.
It was a combination of her outfit, determination and soulful voice that saw her winning the hearts of the judges of at the recent chutney competition held at Rose Hall, Berbice and according to her it was also triumphing over difficult moments just before getting on stage, which included a muddy, cramped dressing room.
Still basking in the glory of winning, which came after four attempts, the new chutney queen took time out to sit down with The Scene and share her journey to that memorable accomplishment.
“I was raised by my grandmother. When I was a little girl I’d go to the mandir on Sunday morning and in the afternoons my Sunday School teacher would come collect me. I wore plain, but long enough clothing to go mandir and I sang Bhajans whenever they had functions. Then when church had VBS [Vacation Bible School] I’d put on my flouncy dress and stockings and go sing Gospel,” Vanita, as she prefers to be called, said.
Growing up, Vanita enjoyed listening to Indian folk singer Malini Aswathi. Most of her life has been about singing Bhajans at her mandir on Sunday mornings and singing was probably the only thing that kept her sane later in life, though she didn’t say, when life brought distress.
At seventeen, Vanita started working and seven years later, she married the man she fell in love with. Two years later, she was looking forward to their baby but because he was an alcoholic who stayed away from home for lengthy periods at a time, and not wanting her baby to be brought up in such an environment, they separated two months shy of her giving birth.
Sometime in 2012, fatigued and depressed, she resigned from her job. But instead of helping, this led to her spiralling downward into further depression. After three months of staying at home, she began working at Roraima Airways.
It was one September, while flipping through a newspaper that she saw an ad for a chutney competition slated for January of the following year. Dialing the number from the newpaper Vanita got on to Celia Samaroo of Shakti Strings Band.
According to Vanita, Celia started prepping her for the competition by taking her to perform at small shows so as to build on her self-confidence and her vocals. The end of the chutney competition in 2013, saw Vanita placing fourth and being awarded ‘Best Newcomer’. Even today the trophy she won stands in her home as a testimony of her determination. She went on to compete in 2014, 2015 and this year.
Music to Vanita has been a comfort through times of anguish; music soothes her soul and doing what she loves means being happy. “At the age of 29, being separated and having a child made me feel like giving up, yet being determined for betterment I pushed onward. I’d like to encourage our youths that no matter the challenges you face in life, once you persevere, you can make it,” she said.
Although she has been singing professionally for quite some time, Vanita admits to being nervous just about every time she performs. But she builds courage the moment she steps onstage, talks herself out of it and lunges into her performance.
Life as an artiste, she disclosed, is not always a ‘bed of roses’. At the recent competition in Berbice unsuitable accommodation for artistes was provided by the co-coordinators. The dressing room was too small for its fourteen contestants and their dancers, who were many in number as the chutney queen alone utilized four dancers.
And the floor of the room was so muddy it squished as they walked about getting themselves and each other ready. Vanita, one of the lucky ones, walked with an extra pair of footwear so her feet looked good onstage. A few others, however, took to the stage in muddy footwear.
She noted also that competitors did not have enough supporters except for a handful of family and friends and there was not enough media coverage of the competition either. She said it seemed as if Indian Culture was losing its importance, especially at a time when Guyana is commemorating 100 years since the end of Indian indentureship.
The singing sensation also felt that the date of the competition, which was the day after the calypso competition and so close to the Mashramani parade an event persons would have been more focused on, contributed to the lack of support. Hopefully, she said, this doesn’t happen again and national competitions can be spaced apart by at least a month.
Vanita is now a senior employee at CAMS (Caribbean Aviation Maintenance Services Ltd) where she works as an Aircraft Librarian/ Recording Secretary.
Her free time finds her performing at Princess Hotel Casino, Hindu functions and birthday parties along with Prince Wazir and their band which they’re planning to launch two Saturdays from today.
She is currently gearing her daughter, Vanalysa Ramdial, to learn the art and hopes in a few years’ time the band would be taking on other Guyanese artistes while she helps to manage it.
Other than Chutney, Vanita also sings Reggae, Soca, Dancehall, Oldies (Indian and English), Latin, American Pop and Rock.
She enjoys singing, watching Lifetime and horror movies, hanging out with friends and cooking fried rice, chowmein, baked macaroni and cheese and potato wedges.
Her other songs are: “My Guyana Chutney,” “Tremble It” and “Why” and can be found on Facebook and YouTube under Vanita Willie. “Powah” was recorded by the Shakti Studio and will be released in three weeks. Vanita is also expected to be releasing an album with her four singles and other covers within a month’s time.
Her winnings include an $800,000 cash prize and a trophy. Coming second, third and fourth respectively were Bunty Singh who sang “Harmonium Bhajaweh,” Roger Hinds, “Meri Patni Ah Horn Meh” and Vicadi Singh with “Family Doh Like Meh”. The top four contestants are still to collect their prizes.
