Dil-e-Nadan's 'Generation 3' steals the show
Saturday, April 9 2011

TRINIDAD EXPRESS - By Carolyn Kissoon south bureau - The third generation of the Dil-e-Nadan orchestra debuted at the post-Valentine Everybody Loves Raymond concert last week. And already promoters are requesting it for international tours.

"But we are not sure what we are going to do right now. I did not expect the fans to love "Generation 3" so much. The children are young and they would have to decide whether this is what they want to do," band manager Richard Ramnarine said.

The offspring of brothers Rennie, Raymond and Richard Ramnarine received a standing ovation when they joined their superstar fathers on stage.

The Gasparillo-based band was established by Moonilal "Tole" Ramnarine decades ago and kept alive by his musical sons.

And during the annual concert at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Ramnarine's grandchildren showed that the popular crossover band would be around for a long time.

Raymond Ramnarine, the band's lead singer, wiped away tears as his elder son, Varun, belted out Bollywood classic "Tere Mere Milan Ke Raina" from the movie Abhiman. And when his five-year-old son, Vinesh, asked his father to stand back and allow him to perform a song,

Ramnarine was speechless.

Little Vinesh, with hands over his brows surveyed the massive crowd and shouted: "Look at people!" The audience roared. He then sang a verse from his father's popular hit "Chand Sitare", followed by his original chutney song, sending the crowd in a frenzy.

Ramnarine urged parents to encourage their children to get involved in culture. "Their education is extremely important, but if they can fit it in I think culture is very important," he said. Ramnarine said he sets aside time to get involved in his children's lives—he is the president of their school's Parent/Teacher Association.

But he jokingly warned his sons: "You have to come real good to be better that your daddy."

And if that was not enough, the twin sons of his brother Richard Ramnarine, also mounted the stage performing Justin Beiber's "Baby". Six-year-olds Arvind and Amish were accompanied by the Xtreme Breakers dancers. The duo dressed in matching white suits..

Rennie Ramnarine's 12-year-old daughter, Samara, also joined her dad on stage to perform a duet.

The entertainers said it was their children's debut performance and branded the youngsters "Generation 3".

Richard Ramnarine, band manager, said his goal was to target children in the entertainment industry to perform positive songs. "We need to get our young ones interested in something else, rather that only rum songs. This is only the beginning for what we have planned for the world," he said.

Dil-e-Nadan performed at many popular fetes during the Carnival season and has world tours scheduled throughout the year. The Ramnarine brothers have performed in North America, Europe and throughout the Caribbean.