As a tribute to women who have made a vital difference to society, ‘Women Exxluzzive', a monthly magazine, honoured 10 prominent personalities in various fields than spanned the arts, business and medicine, for excellence in their profession recently.
The Women Exxluzzive Anniversary Awards, sponsored by Naidu Hall, were presented to the achievers by D. Napoleon, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, at a gala function in the Residency Towers recently.
The awardees were: The Dhananjayans, Revathi Shanmugam, Nina Reddy, Fathima Babu, Amudha Hari, Radhika Surajit, Tina Vincent, Paloma, Ophelia and Alisha Abdulla.
As they came on stage to receive their awards, a brief video clipping about their achievements was screened for the benefit of the audience. Mr. Napolean presented each one of them a bouquet of flowers and a memento.
The Minister, whose speech was laced with humour, said he derived a lot of information from the ‘Fascinating Facts' section in "WE". Bowing to audience demand, he sang a few lines of the song “Adisayam…” from the film ‘Jeans'.
Bharatanatyam exponents V.P. Dhananjayan and Shantha Dhananjayan were the first to receive the award. Mr. Dhananjayan said he and his wife were “extremely happy to receive this award.” Culinary expert Revathi Shanmugam wished the "WE" team all success. Nina Reddy, executive director of Savera Hotels, indicated that what matters for a woman is the balance that she needs to bring between personal and professional life. “Be determined to succeed and you will win,” she said.
While accepting her award, news reader and artist Fathima Babu said: “Do what you feel like doing without hurting others.” She complimented the "WE" team for bringing out a magazine which did not cross the border of decency. Dr. Amudha Hari of Mithra Foundation, a consultant gynaecologist and laparoscopic surgeon who has been helping HIV infected mothers deliver healthy babies by ensuring a strict protocol of medicines and care, said: “To me, happiness and hope given to a HIV positive woman by helping her get a healthy baby is the biggest award. We need to enlighten and empower them.” Radhika Surajith, dance choreographer, said she was happy to be sharing the stage with her esteemed gurus, the Dhananjayans.
Tina Vincent, fashion designer and daughter-in-law of veteran Tamil actor Ashokan, who designs predominant western wear for women of heavier build, said: “I believe that a large woman can wear and carry off anything, depending on how it is styled.” Alisha Abdullah, all of 17 years and the lone woman super bike racer in the country, said: "Only when I am receiving this award, I realise that I am a female."
VJ of SS Music channel Paloma, and ‘Imsai Arasi' Ophelia, RJ of 92.7 Big FM, said they felt honoured to receive the award.
Sumathi Srinivas, editor and publisher of ‘WE', while addressing the gathering, said that in Chennai, women have blossomed like never before. “Every woman wants to be recognised whenever she achieves something. ‘WE' team is here to bring such women to the limelight.”
Residency Towers was the hospitality partner for the event.
