The musical extravaganza drew thousands of people from all over the Caribbean, U.S. and Canada. Mr. Dandona, Chairman and CEO of the Bollywood Group, said, ”It is truly a distinct honor for my group to be part of the history that has been created today. Trinidadians, carry and promote our culture, values and tradition in the most meaningful manner. Their love for India’s culture is visible by the spectacular success of today’s event. ”

The vibrant cultural link between India and Trinidad & Tobago was further endorsed by the presence for the former Prime Minister and now the leader of the opposition Mr. Basdeo Panday and his wife Oma, Indian High commissioner Mr.J.S.Sapra, San Fernando West MP Diane Seukeran, Former Minister of Works and Transport Franklin Khan and his wife, Minister of Culture Joan Yuell Williams, President of the Senate and Acting President of T&T Linda Babolal, Former Miss World Giselle La Ronde West, Ramesh Maharaj, former Attorney General of T&T, Former President Mr. Hassanali and Lady Hassanali, Radhika Seth-Chairman of the Tourism Board of T& T.

The Master of Ceremonies was the popular Kiran Maharaj who kept the audience engaged throughout the event. Ravi Bissembar of the band Karma opened the evening with a breathtaking performance of the hit song”Mangalam Ganesham”. Popular Caribbean artist Indar Kanhai and the local Shiv Shakti dancers gave the event a powerful Indo-Caribbean flavour. Hot international pop star Raghav performed his top-of-the-charts hits: “Angel Eyes” and “Can’t Get Enough.”

BOLLYWOOD MUSIC AWARD WINNERS 2005

• Late Madan Mohan- Best Music Director - Film
• Udit Narayan- Best Male Singer
• Kavita Krishnamurthy- Best Female Singer
• Kumar Sanu- Best Artiste – Male
• Asha Bhosle- Best Artiste – Female
• Babul Supriyo- Best Album
• Pritam (Dhoom) -Best Song of the Year
• Harry Anand- Best Dance Video
• Harry Anand- Best Remix
• Juggy D- Best Bhangra
• Atif Aslam- Best New Musical Talent
• Kamalludin Mohammed- Lifetime Achievement Award

ABOUT KAMALUDDIN MOHAMMED

The very special and prestigious “Lifetime Achievement” award for distinguished contribution to the Bollywood movie/music industry in the Caribbean was given to the legendary Mr. Kamaluddin Mohammed.

One hundred and sixty years ago the Fatel Razack and other ships sailed from India and arrived on the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago bringing hundreds of Indian immigrants from many provinces of the Indian continent. Out of determination to survive and dedication to their families they sacrificed, holding tightly to the only link they had with the motherland, their culture, with music, song and dance being the key component.

They struggled and toiled in the canefields to ensure that their children would have a better life in this new land, known as Trinidad. These struggles produced great men and women who have changed the face of this nation for the better and who made their parents and grandparents proud as they rose to the highest positions in the land culturally, professionally and politically. Among these great men and women stands Kamaluddin Mohammed.

In September 1947, Trinidad’s 1st Radio Station, Radio Trinidad was launched and Kamal was asked to arrange for the blessing of the station by both Hindu and Muslin clerics. He arranged for Haji Ruknudeen Sahib to give the Islamic blessing in Arabic and Urdu and Kamal translated that into English, while the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Port-of-Spain, the Most Reverend Dr. John Pius Dowling, delegated the Adjutant Finbar Ryan, who later became Archbishop himself, to offer prayers on behalf of the Christian community. Pundit Bhagowtie conveyed the blessings of the Hindu community.

Kamal’s performance in translation was impressive and within a week he was invited to host the first ever Indian programme on radio in Trinidad, ’Indian Talent on Parade’ on Radio Trinidad every Sunday from 1 to 2p.m. In the Trinidad of the 1940’s there were not so many radios and so large crowds would gather at the few homes with radios to listen to this programme. Kamal’s ability to speak oriental languages (Hindi and Urdu) with such ease and fluency was a definite asset. This was interspersed with English, which made for a really interesting and enervating broadcast in which the announcer would wend his way through a linguistic mosaic that conveyed an atmosphere of East meeting West.

His broadcasts featured the local musicians and artistes of that era. Among them were the renowned Naya Zamana Orchestra of Ostad Nazear Mohammed, Narsaloo Ramaya and Isaac Mohammed; Jit Seesahai and his Melody Makers and the S.M. Aziz Orchestra famous singers included Jhagroo Kawal, Tarran Persad, Noor Jehan, Jang Bahadoor, Sayeed Mohammed, Zora Seesahai, Champa Devi, Tooloom Dindial, Isaac Yankaran and Sonny Chandee to name a few.

For a young man of only twenty, this was a major achievement by any standards. When one considers that opportunities for such prestigious positions in the media even today are limited, one can fully appreciate the impact that a young twenty-four old East Indian male would have had to make in 1947 to get the nod of radio producers to host such a programme. But then again that was Kamal. He also became the youngest Imam in Trinidad and Tobago and established the first Indian record shop in Trinidad known as the Dilbahar on Queen Street. This was known as the Dilbahar roti shop, here the young Kamal sold gramophone records of Indian Film Music. This young man was responsible for taking the first group of performing artistes from Trinidad to India. The group comprised of local musicians, singers and steel pan players.

Kamaluddin Mohammed went on to be one of the founders of the PNM political party, which formed the first Government of Trinidad and Tobago when the islands decided to shed the cloak of Colonialism. He served as a Minister in several Ministries; he also served as Deputy Prime Minister of the country and was President of the World Health Organization.

The Bollywood Music Awards were held on Saturday, Dec 3rd 2005 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad. The Awards were viewed by over 270 million viewers on television in over 90 countries.

For further information visit www.bollywoodawards.com