Radio announcer and local entertainer Anil Bheem passed away today at the age of 48.

Bheem, a host of the afternoon drive-time programme Catch the Rhythms on 103FM had performed on Friday night and succumbed to a suspected heart attack according to reporting by Prior Behary of AZPNews.

Bheem began working as a technical operator with the radio station in 1993. The station delivered the first all-Indian programming in Trinidad and Tobago and was successful from the start.

He also performed cover versions of popular Bollywood songs along with renditions of devotionals.

“Anil Bheem was our star,” wrote Dik Henderson, one of the founders of 103FM in a remembrance shared with MATT.
“He maintained that leadership position with every national listener poll taken for over thirty years.”

“On every stage on which he performed locally and abroad, he flew and  proudly waved the 103 flag. Internally, he was forever bending or breaking house rules much to the annoyance of a succession of team leaders who were often reluctant to consider that stars should be managed differently.”

“Anil Bheem was the Brian Lara of the 103FM team, although I’m not sure he really understood that. Much to the chagrin of his peers, he charmed while laughing at the orthodox, promoted himself and his music relentlessly and in so doing, promoted 103FM…relentlessly.”

“May he rest in eternal Peace.”

Anil Bheem was married to Cheryl and raised two daughters, Neelun and Prithivi.