114 singers shortlisted for SDF’s ‘Sargam Sikkim’ talent hunt

SUBASH RAI
GANGTOK, 25 Feb: 114 participants from all four districts of Sikkim will be competing in the first round of the 1st season of ‘Sargam Sikkim’, a State-level talent hunt for singers organized by the cultural affairs wing of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front. The first round of competitions is scheduled to be held from 11 to 13 March here at the SDF Bhawan conference hall.

Sargam Sikkim, an annual event added to the calendar of undertakings of the Cultural Affairs Cell of the SDF this year, aims at searching local talent and preparing them as professionals by providing proper platform, grooming and training.
Basant Lamichaney, convenor [Administration & Management], Sargam Sikkim, informs, “This will be an annual event of the party and we have dedicated the 1st season to singing.”
He said that the next season will be covering theatre followed by dance and then instrumental competitions etc.
Mr. Lamichaney informed that the grand finale for every season will be held on 22 September every year, coinciding with “Garibi Unmoolan Diwas” [poverty alleviation day] of the SDF party.
This season, 300 participants turned up for the 5-day long audition rounds held recently and out of these, 114 have made it to the first round competition. Among them 49 are from East district, 32 from South, 06 from North and 27 from West district.
“The top-30 will be professionally trained and groomed before they compete in the final showdown,” states Beeru Bangdel, co-ordinator [Programme].
Mr. Bangdel also informed that a sum of Rs. 1.5 lakhs have been aside to the 1st prize winner as cash as well as package prizes followed by Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 30,000 to the second and third runners up respectively.
“30 shortlisted toppers will also receive gift vouchers from the organizers,” he informs.
On registration of the candidates, Mr. Bangdel informed that this is the first state level open competition of its kind being organized by the party and registration was free.
He adds, “In the preliminary rounds, candidates have to sing in Nepali but when the competition progresses, they will be given chance to sing in any language.”
The panel of judges comprises of Basant Chettri, Madhusudhan Lama and Jagdish Sharma with Roshan Rai and Santosh Rai as Co-ordinator [Technical] and Co-ordinator-II [Programme] respectively.
The organizers are hopeful that this initiative will definitely discover and produce genuine talents who will establish their career as professional singers in the near future.