By Prior Beharry
POPULAR radio announcer and local entertainer of Indian songs Anil Bheem, 48, has passed away.
He died at his Curepe home on Saturday morning after a performance the night before. Relatives believe he succumbed to a suspected heart attack.
He worked at 103FM and was host of the popular drivetime programme Catch the Rhythms on afternoons.
Executive Director of 103 FM Jason Corbie described Bheem as “an ambassador and one of the true singers of the local Indian music industry.”
Owner of 103FM Dik Henderson said he was shocked that Bheem had passed away at such a young age. He said Bheem was not only a wonderful announcer but established himself as a live performer who made a name for himself not only in Trinidad and Tobago but throughout the world.
Former programme director of 103FM Hemant Saith said he was in shock when contacted on Saturday morning.
He said Bheem started his career in 1993 in the early days of 103FM, the first all-Indian music station in Trinidad and Tobago, as a technical operator.
Saith said his mother is the popular local singer Prematee Bheem and her son used to practise singing during downtime in the studio.
He said Bheem was given the opportunity to be an announcer and was a natural.
Saith said Bheem made the Saturday morning Chutney Train the number one Indian programme in the country in the 1990s.
He did Afternoon Delight after Bheem’s Chutney Train and there was always a friendly rivalry as to who was the more popular, the former programme director said. Saith said there was no contest as Bheem popularity was phenomenal.
Bheem was also known as the Vocalist and did cover versions of popular Bollywood songs from playback singers such as Kumar Sanu.
He recently did a version of Mohammed Rafi’s local favourite Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki under the title The Indian Anthem. He was the lead singer of his band called the BMRZ.
Bheem leaves to mourn his mother Pramatee, wife Cheryl, two daughters Neelun and Prithivi and grandchildren.
