The talents of Nilambur have been honoured at last. Thanks to the Democratic Youth Federation of India, nearly three dozen persons who made a lasting impression in different fields of creativity, including music, drama, magic and cinema, were honoured at a function held at Chandakunnu, near Nilambur, on Wednesday evening.
All of them were local celebrities in their own right. A few of them were dead and gone. Yet their memories inspired the organisers to honour them posthumously.
E.K. Ayamu, iconoclast playwright who inspired many to fight against religious superstitions through his play Ijj Nalla Manushyanaakan Nokku , was among those honoured decades after his death. His widow Kadeesa accepted the memento.
So did Vijayalakshmi on behalf of her late husband Nilambur Balan, an actor who voiced for equitable social development. Balan acted in many films, including the memorable Sankupushpam .
The others who received citations from State Youth Welfare Board vice-chairman P. Sreeramakrishnan included actors Nilambur Aysha and Nilambur Seenath, singers Rahna and Nilambur Santhi, dubbing artiste Nilambur Afsath, artists Nilambur Sivaraman and M.R. Ravi, magicians Nilambur Pradeep and Nilambur Joy, musician Nilambur Suresh and industrialist and the former Rajya Sabha member P.V. Abdul Wahab.
Aysha's resolute move
It was Nilambur Aysha's brave and resolute move against the opposition of Muslim orthodoxy that paved the way for several other Muslim women to take to acting and singing. Zeenath was one among them.
The meeting remembered the hardships and resistance Aysha suffered in her early years of drama acting.
Minister for Industries Elamaram Karim inaugurated the function. Mr. Sreeramakrishnan stressed the necessity of remembering the sacrifices made by stalwarts like Aysha and Ayamu. “But for their struggle and sacrifices we would not have been able to enjoy such freedom today,” he said.
Among those who felicitated the talents of Nilambur were State Women's Commission member P.K. Sainaba; actor Mamukoya; and director T.M. Siddique.
A musical evening titled ‘Ishal Sandhya' led by Nilambur Suresh followed the function.
