“What is the theme of your kolu ?” “This lady looks familiar. Hasn’t she won prizes in previous editions too?” Anyone with a sharp ear would have caught such whispers at the packed hall at Saraswathi Vidyalaya in Vadapalani, which hosted the prize distribution function of ‘Kolu Kondattam 2017’, on October 14.
The event was presented by Co-optex and organised by The Hindu Downtown and Penn Indru , a supplement of The Hindu Tamil.
Over 100 short-listed participants were invited to the function. The names of winners and other special prizes were kept a top secret until they were announced.
That’s why every participant — who was a potential winner — was waiting with bated breath. The event got off to a start with a music concert by Carnatic singing duo, sisters Anahita and Apoorva. The siblings were accompanied by Shata Ravindran on the violin and Gomathi Ravishankar on the mridangam.
The duo sang devotional songs including that of poet Subramania Bharati’s Chinnanchiru Kiliye and Kaatrinile Varum Geetham .
Managing director of Co-optex T.N. Venkatesh, who was the chief guest, lit the traditional lamp. He was joined by K.S. Natarajan, principal, Saraswathi Vidyalaya, Vadapalani, and R. Divakar, Senior General Manager, Advertising, The Hindu . Apart from two runners-up from each of the six zones of Downtown — T. Nagar, Mylapore, Anna Nagar, Adyar, Tambaram, and Velachery — a grand winner was selected in each of these areas. So, the six grand winners are: S. Banumathy (T. Nagar), Archana (Mylapore), Ravi Kumar R. (Anna Nagar), Padmini Srinivasan (Adyar), B. Shanthi (Tambaram) and Priya Shyam (Velachery). The event sponsors included Prashanthi Sarees, Gramiyaa Naatu Mara Chekku Oil, Kanchi Weavers, Foot Haven, Seeman Textiles, Bravo Clothing, Lalah’s Masala, Vivekanandha Sarees, Supreme Furniture, Doshi Housing, Sri Krishna Sweets, Adroit Realty Developers and Entizer Sportz.
