Sundar Popo tribute video to promote his legacy
Chutney singer Brian Mohan met iconic singer and late "father of chutney" Sundar Popo once and but that fateful meeting inspired a career in music. And 25 years later, Mohan released a tribute video to Popo that has racked up hundreds of thousands of views on social media.Newsday interviewed Mohan and Popo's widow, Keyso, at the late singer's home at Lalbeharry Trace, Monkey Town, Barrackpore.
Mohan described himself as a son of the soil from Barrackpore."As a young person interfering with Sundar Popo's music, you have to ensure you do a good job."When he was 14, he visited an event at Kanhai Road, Barrackpore, where Popo and the BWIA National Indian Orchestra were performing."And I walked up to him and (asked) him, 'Uncle, can I get to sing a song with you?' He said 'sure.' And after the intermission, he put me on stage with him."
They sang Popo's 1970 hit Nana and Nani."That was a very heart-touching experience because knowing Sundar was the person that represented the culture at that time. And he ignited this fire in me to pursue my career in being an entertainer. And there is where it all started."
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Behind where Mohan was seated was a display with the many awards Popo won during his life. Born Sundarlal Popo Bahora in Monkey Town, Barrackpore, the singer had a prolific career that helped popularise East Indian music and saw him performing throughout the country and the world. On May 2, 2000, Popo died at home from heart and kidney ailments relating to diabetes. He was 56. His funeral was attended by then prime minister Basdeo Panday.
On the video, he explained due to the covid19 restrictions they had to keep the group very small. Everything was shot in Barrackpore including in front of Popo's home, by his statue in Debe, and in front of cricketer Samuel Badree's home. In the video, they sought to replicate moments from Popo's videos including having characters fall into the water during the Nana and Nani segment, and showing a plane during the Don't Fall in Love segment (the song includes the line "Yuh fallin from a plane gyal").
Brian Mohan - Tribute To Sundar Popo [Official Music Video] (2021)
In reply to sgtdjones
That fella Brian Mohan has a good voice and would like to hear him sing a Calypso or just a more european type pop song.
I support any tribute to national cultural icons. Good job