Bandleader Brian MacFarlane's depiction of what he labelled as "the rich cultural elements and exotic images of India" has secured his band the "George Bailey Carnival Band of the Year" title for 2007 in the large band category.
By Kimberly MackhanThe band's choreographed production India: The story of Boyie nudged last year's winner, Trini Revellers' La Revolution Francaise into second spot.
"It (India: The story of Boyie) was the first ever portrayal of an entirely East Indian large band. (And) there were many sceptics around me who thought that we were destroying any chances of success with this presentation. There were many people who thought that it (our presentation) would offend, and (that it) was disrespectful," an elated MacFarlane said yesterday.
"But I am really happy that Trinidadians, and masqueraders on the whole, have appreciated our intricate detail of the costumes and their choreographed place in the band."
For MacFarlane, it was the first time that his band had won in the large band category. It was his second year as a designer/bandleader in the large band category and his third year overall as a bandleader. He also took the Lil Hart award in the large band category.
In 2004, MacFarlane was also triumphant in the medium band category when he designed and led his first full presentation The Washing -By Fire, By Water.
Yesterday, he said: "I am very excited and more so for the masqueraders, they wanted to win. But I kept telling them that I did it for the art. The exotic images of India, rich in colour and ornamentation have always fascinated me. And I plan to continue this Carnival tradition of hand-crafting costumes for 'the theatre of the streets' in my presentation next year, to capture that traditional sense of Carnival."
MacFarlane, who started his costume-designing career as an unpaid proletariat with renowned mas-maker Raoul Garib, gained the most number of points in the large band category, more than 45 points ahead of David Cameron's Trini Revellers.
Mike Antoine and Juliet De La Bastide's Legacy presentation, Hiawatha, copped the third place position for the same category.
In total, eight large bands contested the competition. Five of these bands, among them Pulse 8 Ltd's Cocktails: You Shake, We Stir and Gerald Hart's Uthopia, were disqualified by the National Carnival Commission for failing to appear at a minimum three of the delegated judging points.
In a news conference held at Carifesta House, Stanmore Avenue, Port of Spain, yesterday NCC representatives announced the official Carnival 2007 results, which included the results of the Junior and Senior Carnival competitions and the National Road March Competition.
Among those in attendance were NCC chairman Keston Nancoo; National Carnival Bands Association vice-chairman Felix Celestine; NCC Adjudication Committee chief judge Theodore Villaroel; Trinibago Unified Calypsonians' Organisation president Michael Legerton and Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs Minister, Joan Yuille-Williams.
Yuille-Williams thanked the individuals associated with the judging and registration of the bands who worked through the night in order to prepare the results by yesterday and labelled Carnival 2007 as a success.
Her comments were echoed by Nancoo, who told the Express there were some instances in which expectations were surpassed.
Nancoo said: "I want to express thanks and appreciation particularly to the protective services and all the support services for making 2K7 the success that it was."
