The orchestra was playing the popular number, very often the one from ‘Ayirathil Oruvan’ (Adho andha paravai pola…) or from the film ‘Andha Ezhu naatgal’ (‘Kavithai arangerum naeram’). But, the veteran music director, M.S.Viswanathan, sprang a surprise when he rendered a devotional song ‘Pullankuzhal kodutha moongilgalae’.
Mr. Viswanathan who came to present the ‘UTV’ award to 11 social workers and achievers of Tiruchi district, immediately conceded the demand of the audience to sing a song and rushed towards the mike, politely asking the fans to keep silence to facilitate his performance.
Amidst pin-drop silence, he sang the song composed by late Kannadasan. Being a popular composition, a number of fans too joined Mr. Viswanathan in singing devotional number which persuades devotees to ‘sing the glory of Our Purushothaman’. At the end of the first ‘anupallavi’, Mr. Viswanathan re-made the song and asked the audience to ‘sing the glory of Our Kannadasan’, making the audience to give a standing ovation. “This is a rare opportunity for us all,” said the comparer of the programme.
Awards presented
Later, Mr. Viswanathan presented the award to 11 social workers and achievers. The recipients were Jambaka Ramakrishnan, Amirthavalli, ‘Yoga’ Ramasamy, Saraswathy, Kamatchi, Senthilkumar, K. Sekar, Mansur, Michael Gnanadurai, Ramakrishnan and M. Sekaran.
Mr. Viswanathan also handed over a communicative device worth about Rs.1 lakh donated by “Saratha’s” to a special school working for children with autism. Geetha, a special teacher, who received the equipment, hoped it would help improve the children’s hearing skills.
Murugiah from Vasan Estates, said that Mr. Viswanathan’s extraordinary talent in music played a crucial role in acting as a remedy to people in distress, and also rendered a poem in glory of Major Saravanan.
The citation referred to the services being rendered by the achievers. It explained Ms. Kamatchi’s services in the cause of HIV-afflicted children; Mr. Sekar’s efforts in imparting life skills to students; Mr. Michael’s services for providing employment to the differently abled; and Mr. Mansur’s innovative plans in moulding the youth for the past four decades. Ms. Amirthavalli, said that she was proud to be the mother of Major Saravanan. ‘Yoga’ Ramasamy explained the impact of yoga in keeping good health. Ms. Jambaka Ramakrishnan appreciated the efforts by the UTV in identifying and honouring personalities.
