A salute to greatness
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
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It was a twin-celebration when homage was paid to poet Kannadasan.
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Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam
Honour: (From left) Jayachitra and actor Srikanth receiving the Kannadasan Award from music directors M.S. Viswanathan and T.K. Ramamurthy.
A heartening feature of the annual celebrations at the Kaviarasu Kannadasan Tamizh Sangam is the packed hall — a testimony to people’s veneration for the lyricist and poet, who died nearly three decades ago. This year was no different. Ka
nnadasan’s glory transcends time - a fact the speakers of the evening reiterated. The event, held at Vani Mahal, Chennai, on Saturday last, was a combined fest of the poet’s 82nd birthday and the completion of the 17th year of the Sangam.
Over the years the Sangam has honoured quite a few veterans in the field of cinema with Kannadasan Awards.
Senior artists selected
The chosen ones this year were senior artists Srikanth and Jayachitra. Looking at the cheerful and smiling Jayachitra proved nostalgic for those who had grown-up watching her sprightly on-screen performances. But striking a contrast was Srikanth. Visibly ill, weak and exhausted, it was an effort for the actor to go up on stage and collect his trophy. Yet the grit of the yesteryear artist, who could hold his own even when pitted against giants such as Sivaji Ganesan (Thanga Padhakkam), to make it to the podium has to be appreciated.
This time, the entertainment segment at the beginning was pleasantly different.
Radhika Surajit and her troupe which is steadily making a mark for its choreographed presentations of yesteryear Tamil film numbers, danced to an exclusive Kannadasan repertoire — in expressions, choice of songs and costume each was a gem, but for “Adho Andha Paravai Pola” which didn’t quite jell as a dance piece.
Former MP Jagathrakshagan, an ardent admirer of Kannadasan and a regular speaker at the Kannadasan Vizha every year, decided to keep his presidential address short, because he said like others, he too was waiting to listen to the special speaker of the evening, Thamizharuvi Manian, member, Tamil Nadu Planning Commission.
“Fifteen minutes have been allotted to me, but its tough to compress Kannadasans greatness in such a short time span,” Manian began. Quite vociferous in expression, he noted that though the poet’s fame was mainly from cinema his literary works need to be highlighted too.
Logical arguments
Kannadasan’s arguments that come out loud and clear in his writings are logical both to the theist and atheist, because he himself was one who became an ardent devotee of the Lord after a sojourn in atheism, said Manian.
As he went on to quote Kannadasan extempore, the audience couldnt stop putting their hands together. But when their attention got diverted a little with the entry of a few guests, he gave vent to his irritation without mincing words — something the eminent speaker could have avoided.
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