Bhojpuri singers yet to cut swathe in Suriname

Varanasi, Nov 4 (UNI) It is not Bhojpuri singing icon Manoj Tiwari, but Bollywood singers like Sonu Nigam and Udit Narayan, who are more popular in Suriname -- a country where over 35 per cent of the population speaks Bhojpuri.

''Over 35 per cent of Surinamese population are of Indian origin, who largely migrated from Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to this Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nation in 1870s as indentured labour. Bhojpuri music like Sohar, Nirguniya Bhajans and Devi Geet are ingrained in the culture of Suriname, but none of the Bhojpuri singers from India have been truly successful in creating a mass audience for themselves there,'' Krishna Dutt Baijnath, the Suriname ambassador to India, said here today.

Mr Baijnath arrived in the city on a three-day visit on Thursday.

The Surinamese ambassador said it is Bollywood singers Sonu Nigam and Udit Narayan, touring the country once a year, who are a big hit with Hindi and Bhojpuri speaking population of Suriname.

''One fails to understand why Bhojpuri singers like Manoj Tiwari, who have been a hit in countries like Mauritius have failed to strike a chord with Bhojpuri speaking Suriname population who prefer 'Chutney-Music' -- a fusion of Bhojpuri and western music -- over the music from the land they left over 135 yrs ago.'' He further said not only Bhojpuri music, but Bhojpuri cinema has failed to end the dominance of Bollywood films being telecast round the clock by some TV channels in Suriname. While Amitabh Bachchan is a permanent hit in Suriname, hazel-eyed Aishwarya Rai has replaced Hema Malini as 'dream girl' in the country located on the northern shore of South America.

''May be Big B in Bhojpuri flick Ganga can boost the prospects of Bhojpuri film industry in Suriname,'' Mr Baijnath said adding efforts were needed to popularise Bhojpuri films in the country, where Bhojpuri traditions still form a seminal part of culture.

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