The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Rotary Club award for Y. Gee. Mahendra

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 27, 2006
ePaper

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Rotary Club award for Y. Gee. Mahendra

Staff Reporter

Also presented with Distinguished Service Award

MOMENT OF HONOUR: Y.Gee. Mahendra, stage artiste, receives the citation for the `Distinguished Service Award' from veteran filmmaker K. Balachander at a function held by the Rotary Club of Madras, T. Nagar, on Sunday. — Photo: R.Ragu

CHENNAI : Stage and film artiste, Y. Gee. Mahendra, was honoured with Vocational Excellence Award for the year 2006-07 by the Rotary Club of Madras, T. Nagar, on Sunday. The award carried a silver salver and a citation recounting Mr. Mahendra's versatile acting career spanning over 40 years.

Mr. Mahendra received his award from N. Murali, managing director of The Hindu . Mr. Mahendra was honoured by the Club for not only entertaining people but also making plays with social messages. His production house, United Amateurs Artists, has performed over 5,500 shows across the world.

Mr. Mahendra also encouraged talented people and helped aspiring artistes' realise their dreams. The citation was presented by veteran Tamil filmmaker, K. Balachander. Mahendra started his career under the tutelage of his father, Y. G. Parthasarathy, recalled Mr. Murali. "He is a chip of the old block, his father," he said.

Mr. Mahendra dedicated his award to his parents, his wife, Sudha, his hero, Pattu, who he said had taught him the nuances of acting and his mentor, Mr. Balachander. "Theatre is my breath, my life," he said. He recalled Mr. Balachander's part in introducing him to cinema.

Rajan Eye Care Hospital and its associate organisations honoured Mr. Mahendra with the `distinguished service' award, which was given away by Mr. Balachander. He also released a DVD version UAA's latest drama, Thandramukhi, the first copy of which was received by Mr. Murali.

Eye donation

Dr. Mohan said Mr. Mahendra was chosen because he had helped spread the message of eye donation through his dramas. He had also given them permission to put up banners every time he staged a play and at Bharat Kalachar, an organisation promoting fine arts.

"He helped raise Rs. 6-7 lakh last year by staging his plays for five days in T. Nagar and brought popular film artists to the programme."

It was because of him that the Rotary Rajan Eye bank now receives a pair of eyes every alternate day from merely a pair every month, he said.

Mr. Murali said the media could do better to highlight and publicise such good work done by non-government organisations. V. Vasudevan, president of the Rotary Club of T. Nagar, also spoke.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu