Hosted by Manoj and Geeta Singh.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: The second annual D.C. South Asian Karaoke Contest proved to be a hit for another year running, as all of the competition’s categories filled up before aspiring crooners had to be placed on a waitlist.
The contest, which transpired at the Universities at Shady Grove in the Rockville, Maryland, suburb of Washington D.C., consisted of five distinct categories: Solo Male aged 10 to 20, Solo Male aged 21 and older, Solo Female aged 10 to 20, Solo Female aged 21 and older, and Duet.
According to an official press release:
The Solo Male 10- to 20- years-old category winner was Shiva Sachdeva and runner-up Rohan Damani. In Male Solo 21-plus years old category winner was Samir Shah (song: Main Jahaan Rahoon) and runner up Samarjit Patnaik (Tum bin jaaoon kahan). In Solo Female 10- to 20-years-old category winner was Saloni Bedi (song: Ektara) and runner up Alekhya Marapaka (song: Chahun main ya na). In Solo Female category 21-plus years old winner was Pooja Mathur (song: Dil Hoom Hoom Kare) and runner up was Shaveta Karla (song: Samjhawan). In Duet winners were Himanshu Chaudhary and Pooja Mathur (song: Gun guna rahe bhavre) and runner up were Rakesh Mathur and Eddie Stephens (song: Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi).
The awards were presented by well known members of the Indian arts community. The four judges comprised of Nilima Mehra (Host GTV MHz Network/Chitramala), Kumud Mathur (dance teacher), Farhan Nasir (singer), and Rinku Bhattacharya (music teacher).
“It was a delight to see young second generation children having passion for South Asian music, they have so much energy and enthusiasm,” wrote Manoj Singh — who organized the event along with his wife, Geeta — in an email to The American Bazaar.
Manoj and Geeta Singh co-host the annual DC South Asian Film Festival and the former hosts the televised talk show “Chit Chat with Manoj” on GTV MHz network.
“The judges had a tough time because all 40 singers were very talented,” Geeta Singh wrote via email. “The audience also really enjoyed the variety of songs.”