The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Doordarshan honours eminent personalities

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Saturday, Jan 20, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Doordarshan honours eminent personalities

Special Correspondent

12 Podhigai awards presented to trailblazers in various fields

HONOUR: Carnatic vocalist D.K. Pattammal being presented the Podhigai Award by T.S. Gagan, Director, Doordarshan Kendra, Chennai, at a function in Chennai on Friday. — PHOTO: R. RAGU

CHENNAI : It was a coming together of eminent personalities from various fields at the first-ever Podhigai Awards instituted by the Doordarshan Kendra, Chennai, on Friday.

Twelve awards were given away to trailblazers in the field of music, dance, literature, media, social service and films.

The awards were instituted to honour the `intense creativity of Tamil Nadu," T.S. Gagan, Director, Doordarshan Kendra, Chennai, said, adding "in these difficult times of commercial rivalry, [it] gives us immense pleasure to be in the field to promote classical Carnatic music, folk arts and agricultural technology among farmers from remote areas in the State."

The awards went to D.K. Pattammal (Carnatic music), Abdul Rehman (literature-poetry), Kalanjiyam Iyakkam, represented by its founder, Chinna Pillai (meritorious social service), writer Jayakanthan (literature-prose), Purisai Thambiran family, represented by Purisai Kannappa Sambandan (promotion of folk arts), Na. Muthuswamy (theatre), N. Ram (print media), Ramanathan Krishnan, represented by son Ramesh Krishnan (sports), K.J.Sarasa (dance), Savithri Vaithi (social service), director C.V. Sridhar (cinema) and writer Sujatha (visual media). The Kalanjiyam movement had grown to include self-help groups from nine States, Chinna Pillai said in her acceptance speech.

The awards were an example of what a public service broadcaster can do, Mr. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu , said, adding, "At a time when the field of journalism, for example, is witnessing negative trends such as hyper-commercialisation and tabloidisation, the awards are a recognition of the pursuit of excellence." A programme on Podhigai channel by Vishranthi, an organisation for senior citizens founded by her, had inspired many youngsters, Savithri Vaithi said. Podhigai's contribution to the growth of Tamil folk arts and dialects and Carnatic music was laudable and the channel should not lose its identity and its responsibility to safeguard Tamil culture, Sujatha said. Superintending engineer N. Thyagarajan participated.

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