Oscar-winning music director A.R. Rahman and Jnanpith award winner Jayakanthan were among six winners who received the ‘Tamilan' awards instituted by ‘Puthiya Thalaimurai' news channel at a grand function here on Friday night.
The ‘Tamilan of the year' awards were received by a galaxy of achievers who hoped that the honour would inspire the younger generation to contribute their mite for the weal of society as a whole.
Chairperson of the Cancer Institute, Adyar, V. Shanta, who received the award in the social service category said her institution stood for “service above self”.
Industrialist Venu Srinivasan (awardee in the industry category) said: “Service and industry are no different as both are for the welfare of society as a whole.”
Veteran director K. Balachander lauded A.R. Rahman (who won the award in the art category) as one whose “breath and prayer” was music.
M.S. Swaminathan, eminent agricultural scientist, who was chosen under the science and technology category, reminded the gathering that but for the farmer that there would be no such gathering at all.
Writer D. Jayakanthan, who took the honours in the literature category, in his own inimitable style, chose to attribute the huge number of persons choosing to take up poetry writing these days to the comparative comfort in using the genre or the respect attached to it.
“They probably take up poetry because they find it easier or because they are better respected compared to novelists.”
Chess wizard Viswanathan Anand, awardee in the sports category, was represented by his parents and wife.
“Promising stars”
The most impressive feature of the evening was the honouring of ‘promising stars' in each category: Chandra of Sakthi Arts Troupe (art), Gayathri Govindaraj, athlete, (sports), writer Su. Venkatesan (literature), Revathi (science and technology), Muruganandam (industry) and V. Muraleedharan of Sevalaya (social service).
The Hindu was a print media partner for the function.
