Dharmic Sabha brings Li’l Champs to Guyana
–    To Perform at National Stadium next Sunday
When flight problems and illness prevented the Li’l Champs from arriving in Guyana on time for the Sabha’s annual Arrival Day commemorative concerts at which they were scheduled to perform, despite all the efforts and monies expended by the Sabha, all their fans in this country were very disappointed and President of the Dharmic Sabha, Pt. Reepu Daman Persaud was dismayed because he said that his organization has always delivered what it promised; but circumstances were out of his control.
However, even while refunding money paid for tickets Dr. Vyndhia Persaud, daughter of Pt. Reepu Daman Persaud, vowed to the disappointed fans that she would try her best to ensure that the Li’l Champs come to perform in Guyana no later than August – and her best was good enough, because she has succeeded, with the result that the Li’l Champs are billed to perform at the National Stadium on Sunday 8th August, beginning 7.30 p.m., along with the supremely talented Dharmic Nritya Sangh.  Winner of the 2009 SaReGaMaPa competition, Aneek Dhar, will also be performing at the event.  While children under five would be admitted free, tickets for older children and adults costing $3000 and $1500 and are available at the Kendra in Prashad Nagar, Bhagwans on Water Street, and Harrinarine & Sons on Regent Street.
India’s Li’l singing champs held spellbound audiences of every race worldwide for four months during the competition in 2009, with then five-yr-old Master of Ceremonies, Afsha Musani winning the hearts of everyone with her spontaneous wit, her confidence, her stage-presence, and her amazing knowledge and intelligence.
The Guyanese audience would have the opportunity to enjoy the live performances by the three top contestants of the Li’l Champs competition, winner Hemant Brijwasie, and second and third place winners, Yatarth Kastogi and Shreyasi Ballacharjee.  The now seven-yr-old captivating Afsha, who turned six during the programme, would be hosting the local programme.
The grand finale of the programme, during which the winners were declared, had active participation of  top Indian filmstars and other celebrities like Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan and Asin, with acclaimed singer Shaan hosting the final event.
Acccording to Headlines Today Brijwasi of Mathura, who was earlier eliminated but who re-entered the competition on a wild card episode, got the highest vote from all over India of more than 15 lakhs, while Yatharth was declared as a first runner up and Shreyasi grabbed the third place.  All of them accepted their positions in a sporting manner.

Hemant’s dad could not control his emotion nor repress his tears as his son’s name was announced winner by Salman Khan, but Hemant was jubilant as he thanked the public for their support which.
Mentors Alka Yagnik and Abhijeet Bhattacharya sang while Salman Khan set the stage on fire as he boogied with the kids.
Hemant beat a field of about 50,000 competitors, only 12 of whom made it to the final show. Judged by veterans Abhijeet Bhattacharya and Alka Yagnik the show was hosted by child anchors Afshan Mosani and Dhairya Sorecha. The 11-year-old Hemant hopes to follow in the footsteps of previous winners of “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs” who have been able to carve out a niche for themselves in the world of films and music.
Veteran singer Alka Yagnik commented, “All the three singers are very good and if I was asked to select the winner it have taken me years to choose. I once said that Hemant is much ahead of this platform.”
In the finals Hemant beat the challenge of Yatharth Rastogi from Bengal who secured 13,73,040 votes and Shreyasi from Kolkata who collected 11,38,380 votes. Hemant secured 15,35,380 votes. Hemant who is class VI student of Sant Brij Mohan Lal Junior High School, Mathura comes from a family of folk singers, his father Hukam Brijwasi sings Bhajans, but on the big day at the Andheri sports club in Mumbai he enthralled the audiences with some melodious Bollywood numbers.
After winning the trophy Hemant said, “Abhijeet Sir and Alka Didi worked very hard with me and my parents were always there.”
Hemant said that he got into the competition after his father was told about the countrywide auditions by another musician.  According to the 11-yr-old aspiring singer it was not easy because he had to stand with his father in the line long before dawn without food or water before he got into the audition hall.  When he was chosen his only thought was: “Thank God, now I can eat.”
Hemant said that his elimination was completely justified as he had slackened during his performance that day.  However, he is convinced that it happened for the good because when he got back with a wild card entry he became super-focused with his training regimen as he did not want to lose again                                         
Many of the songs he sang were originally sang by Mohamed Rafi and Hemant said this is because he likes Rafi a lot and keep listening to his songs on the radio.  Also, he gave credit for his success to his father, who trained and encouraged him, saying: “My father has inspired me and I’ve gotten my voice because of him. He has been my trainer. He sings folk songs and so naturally my voice has a slight folk flavor to it.”
Having had to walk one and a half kilometers just to reach his school until last year on his birthday in 2008, when his father gifted him a cycle, Hemant is an apt student who speaks fluent English along with his mother tongue.  Subsequent to the competition he was able to attend a better school because one of the top schools from Mathura offered him a scholarship.
The young musical genius says that he will not neglect his education because “studies are very important. If I get free time then I’ll take up any project. Otherwise I won’t. I aim to make it big in Bollywood someday. I will continue to work towards it by keeping up with my riyaaz. Yatath and I became good friends during L’il Champs and I want to work with him even after I grow up.”
Organizer of the event scheduled for Sunday, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, said that the Sabha has worked very hard and invested a lot of money to ensure that this event happens because of the organisation’s prior commitment.
The Li’l Champs performed in Suriname last evening and are due in Guyana through Berbice on Saturday.  The Sabha plans a motorcade to escort the young artistes into the city on Saturday.