still struggling to beat his drug habit, was rescued and taken in
by relatives who tried to help him rehabilitate.
Their efforts seemed in vain and in no time he was back to his old
ways.
Only recently released from prison again, Terry has found himself
back on the streets, hustling and begging for help from anyone who
could get his once-promising career back on track.
Sundar, who at one time seemed all set to take the chutney baton
from his dad, promised his fans so much, beginning since the days
when he graced the stage with the singing icon.
But he just failed to deliver.
It was a brave-spirited Terry, quite unkempt, dirty hands, worn
clothes, tell-tale signs of his hard life, who spoke to TnT Mirror
when we caught up with him last Saturday, on the busy Mucurapo Street,
San Fernando.
He hangs out around the busy bars on the street, where he, at times,
showcases his singing talent to lovers of chutney music.
He expressed his burning desire to get back under the bright lights.
He was anxious to visit a nearby record store, where his CD is on
sale.
“It not selling, because it not playing on the radio,”
he moaned. It have nobody to push it.”
Producer Moonesar Chankar, who is also his distributor, told Mirror
that because of his problems, Terry proved difficult to work with
despite several attempts to set him on the right path.
Terry disclosed that his nine-track CD has three of his father’s
classics, Nani and Nana, Mother’s Love and Surajee Girls,
along with six of his original compositions.
The CD was first released in New York and Canada.
“People recognise me as Sundar Popo’s son anywhere I
go and they know I could sing,” he said with pride.
“I want to sing again, I want to enter the Chutney Soca Competition,
I could do it again,” he promised.
The man who has performed at many traditional Hindu functions like
prayers and weddings did, in fact, compete at one time.
“I want to carry on where my father left off,” he went
on. “People have been singing his songs and I am the one to
be doing it.”
He admitted to having a drug habit and with an unconvincing nod
of the head, Terry said he had kicked the habit.
“I does still take my little drink and thing,” he added.
However, a businessman (who requested anonymity) on the street who,
at times, offers assistance to Terry, told Mirror he pities him.
He said Terry was still hooked on drugs despite his denial.
“He has too much talent to be wasting it like that; I feel
real sorry for him,” he said, shaking his head.
“I don’t know how much more I can help him, he must
want to change; I can only take him to the water, but I can’t
make him drink.”
Terry has since approached another businessman to help him enter
the Chutney Soca Competition.
When Mirror spoke to the businessman, he said while he was willing
to assist, he was afraid to do so.
“It is an investment and I’m not too sure I’m
willing to risk it with him because of his problems,” said
the businessman. |
