Rathin Kisku performs with his team at the Tata auditorium. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, May 5: The first Santhali Filmfare Awards ceremony, which took place in the city today, witnessed a plethora of loopholes in the preparations.

It was a maiden attempt by Pandit Raghunath Academy of Santhali Cinema and Art (Rasca) and Tata Steel. The programme was organised at the Tata auditorium.

Several issues created hiccups at the event.

The chief guest, HRD minister Bandhu Tirkey, did not turn up for the event and the programme started an hour behind schedule.

But the show saw the coming together of prominent people from different walks of life.

They gathered to share their views on Santhali language and its developments.

About 10 cultural performances marked the event, where the presence of Santhali singer Rathin Kisku added glamour to the show.

“It feels great to come here. I am presenting a whole range of songs right from Santhali baul to the traditional Bengali baul,” said the 25-year-old musical genius who would soon leave for Germany and Italy.

But he found a stark difference in the way shows are conducted here and abroad.

“Everything is professional there. People abide by the format of the show,” said the singing sensation who has to his credit a four-year-old contract with leading music company Saregama HMV.

With three independent albums in his kitty, Rathin is working on a couple of Santhali video films at the moment.

He is currently residing at Santiniketan, where he is learning Hindustani classical.

The Santhali Film Fare Awards honoured artistes in five categories and in two videos and feature films.