Imphal, January 28 2009: THE MOST talented young singer of the Kuki tribe in the North Eastern region will ride home a brand new Activa and pocket an envelope of Rs 10,000 as the prizes after the final contest of singing in the "Kuki Idol 2008-09" to be held at Churachandpur tomorrow.

The grand finale of the "Kuki Idol" with the theme "Arise with music" will start from around 10 O'clock tomorrow morning at the community hall of B Vengnom, Churachandpur.

Competition for selecting the three top finalists out of 10 has begun from this afternoon.

The eagerly awaited result is expected to be known by 9 pm at the latest tomorrow.

The Kuki Idol contest organised by Kuki Idol committee commenced from December 10 last year.

More than 500 young contestants belonging to Thadou-Kuki tribe from different parts of Manipur and from as far as Tripura, North Cachar Hills (Assam) and Nagaland in the NE region of India, and Myanmar registered their names for the contest.

After screening, 324 contestants were found qualified to show their singing talents.

After nearly two months of competitions and several rounds, only 10 most talented singers have been left, and the stiffest competition to choose the single best singer has begun.

The Kuki Idol winner will get a brand new Activa and Rs 10,000 as prize.

The second and the third position holders will get Rs 25,000/- and Rs 15,000/- respectively.

Seven out of the ten entrants who have fallen behind in the crucial round will be given a consolation prize of Rs 5,000/- each.

Seven judges including three women, who are all professional singers and musicians are closely watching the talent hunt.

The whole series of the contest right from day one are being telecast live on the local cable TV network in Churachandpur�TC Network.

Talking about the Kuki Idol, which is obviously the first of its kind in Manipur, chairman of the Kuki Idol Committee, Pu Thamkholun told the Hueiyen Lanpao today at the venue that the main objective of the Kuki Idol contest is to find young persons with talent in singing and to exploit their talent as fully as possible.

There are young persons who are highly talented in music, but remain unable to use their talent without having someone to nurture and promote them, said Pu Thamkholun.

There are people who are ready to promote them and produce music albums, he said and added, this contest is being organised to give the young good singers an opportunity to exploit their own talent.

The Kuki Idol Committee has spent about Rs 4,00,000 (four lakh) on the contest so far, the Chairman revealed.

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