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Rooplal wins Chutney Soca Monarch 2008
 Double winner Rooplal Girdharrie being hoisted by his supporters
TriniSoca.com Reporters
Event Date: January 19, 2008
Posted: January 28, 2008
The 2008 Chutney Soca Monarch competition came to a climatic finale as reigning Monarch Rooplal Girdharrie defeated all challengers to win both the 2008 Chutney Soca Monarch title and the inaugural Groovy Chutney Monarch title. With the new format that involved one song (instead of two), Rooplal G walked away with a lion's share of the prizes, winning a Lancer motorcar and a total of $250,000 for his first place finish in both the competitions. Rooplal edged out another crowd favorite, Rikki Jai, who placed second in both the competitions. Organised by Southex Promotions, the 13th Annual Chutney Soca Monarch came off before a large crowd of Chutney Soca enthusiasts at Skinner Park, San Fernando, on Saturday 19th January, 2008.
 Shiv Shakti dancers on stage
There was a Carnivalesque beginning to the show as the Shiv Shakti Dance Company took to the stage with a kaleidoscope of colour and movement. Dancers, clad in traditional Chutney as well as Carnival-type costumes, entertained the growing crowd with their moves. Also warming up the crowd was veteran singer Anil Bheem.
 Rikki Jai sings in the Groovy Chutney Soca Segment
Rikki Jai kicked off the competition with an energetic performance of "Leh We Go" as he sought to win the first ever Groovy Chutney title. Veteran singer and former champion Heeralal Rampartap, accompanied by moko jumbies, gave a spirited performance. Lalchan 'Hunter' Babwah also gave a good showing, judging from the crowd response, as he rendered his popular ode-to-rum song that advised that "You could bring it a bottle, you could bring it in a flask." The appearance of Bunji Garlin on stage to give his input hyped up the crowd even more.
Adesh Samaroo came on stage in a explosion of rhythm and pyrotechnics, and the crowd responded appropriately as he belted out his offering. Competing in both the competitions, he placed sixth in the Groovy Chutney and fifth in the Chutney Soca Monarch. Fourteen year old Shakeeza Hazell won praises as she performed credibly against her much older competitors with her song "Carnival Time is Chutney Time", being accompanied by the energetic Picton Folk dancers.
 Reigning Monarch Rooplal Girdharrie
Despite the best efforts of the competitors, when the smoke cleared, it was Rooplal G who blazed away the competition with his songs "Crazy for You" and "Aye Sajanee Peeya". The audience clearly had a good time as they danced and cheered on their favourite singers who pulled out all the stops to satisfy the judges and the audience. The competitors used confetti, fireworks, moko jumbies, and elaborate choreographed dance routines by various dance groups including Vikash Dancers, Clico Shiv Shakti Dancers, Hell Breakers, Picton Folk Performing Company and the Durga Shakti Dancers, which added to the excitement on the night.
 Rick Ramoutar and dancers on stage
Apart from the competitions there were several guest performances. Entertaining the crowd were the N9 Dance Company, led by Nalini Akal, who showed off their belly dancing skills to the delight of the crowd. Shiv Shakti also lit up Skinner Park with their dancing and miming to a medley of Pop and Chutney songs while St. John United Tassa Group thrilled the crowd with a scintillating display of Tassa drumming.
Groovy Chutney Results:
Placing / Singer
1st / Rooplal Girdharie
2nd / Samraj 'Rikki Jai' Jaimungal
3rd / Lalchan "Hunter" Babwah
4th / Heeralal Rampertap
5th / Arnold Jordan
6th / Adesh Samaroo, Devika Ram, Rick
Ramoutar
7th / Neeshad Sultan
8th / Angela Ramoutar
Chutney Soca Results:
Placing / Singer
1st / Rooplal Girdharie
2nd / Samraj 'Rikki Jai' Jaimungal
3rd / Soca Elvis (Michael Salloum)
4th / Arti Butkoon
5th / Adesh Samaroo
6th / Heeralal Rampertap
7th / Neeshad Sultan
8th / Rajin Dhanraj
9th / Shakeeza Hazell
10th / Rick Ramoutar
11th / Kenneth Supersad
Chutney Soca Monarch Finals 2008 in pictures:
www.trinisoca.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=86300
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