Chutney singer defiant: Raj won't stop De Raj Song

KICKSY KENNETH: Chutney singer Kenneth Supersad, right, and media consultant Devant Maharaj joke during a pres conference yesterday at Regius Law Chambers, Port of Spain.
KICKSY KENNETH: Chutney singer Kenneth Supersad, right, and media consultant Devant Maharaj joke during a pres conference yesterday at Regius Law Chambers, Port of Spain.

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Despite being threatened with litigation, chutney soca artiste and comedian Kenneth Supersad yesterday said he intends to perform his single De Raj Song at the Chutney Soca Monarch semis tomorrow night at the Liv nightclub and also urged the real Raj to take heed of the song’s lyrics as it promotes faithfulness and compassion.

Speaking at a press conference at Regius Law Chambers on Richmond Street, along with his adviser Devant Maharaj, Supersad said he is going to sing the song. Supersad, who is being represented by Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan, said his intention was to highlight the growing trend of infidelity and unfaithfulness in society. Citing the use of other fictional characters used in chutney songs, he defended the use of the name “Raj” as merely a personification of a common social ill.

“What I want to say is what is different with Raj, is that he is a social character, no different from Balkissoon, no different from Ramsingh Sharma, and the Raj I am singing about is a fictional character. For too long the national community has complained of prizes being given using taxpayers’ money to artistes coming with rubbish lyrics, singing about rum and horn and other negative lyrics,” Supersad said.

“If the man (Raj) identifies with the character in my song, he should perhaps pay close attention to the lyrics and it could help save his marriage and could help mend his ways.” Supersad said the lawsuit which claims harassment, was part of a wider effort by government and other organisations to stifle creativity and stamp out free speech, among performing artistes. He vowed to fight against all forms of intimidation. He also said that an earlier offer to invite the real Raj and other men who have been accused of infidelity to perform alongside him on stage, still stands.

Maharaj, who sat in place of Supersad’s legal counsel, said that in the pre-action protocol letter served by attorney Wendy Ramnath-Panday on Wednesday, references to her client were vague and could be referring to anyone carrying the same name. He contends the song was aimed at parodying the reported exploits of public office-holders .

“There is no copyright for the name Raj. In fact our pre-action protocol letter indicated clearly, if you google ‘Raj.’ there are over 16 million posts for Raj and if you google ‘Raj unfaithful’ you will get 1.6 million hits. So we do not know who Ms Ramnath-Panday is representing. She doesn’t identify her client.

“Mr Supersad and I were talking and it’s really a personification of government ministers given the recent revelations with their own salacious activities.” Maharaj also criticised local copyright authorities for not doing their part to preserve freedom of expression, citing recent warnings from the Telecommunications Authority to media houses if they broadcast the song.

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"Chutney singer defiant: Raj won’t stop De Raj Song"

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