Kalaignar distributes Kalaimaamani awards

By: Settu Shankar
Monday, September 03, 2007

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi distributed the annual Kalaimaamani Awards for the year 2006 on Saturday evening at Chennai Kalaivanar Arangam. The award is the recognition of the services rendered by the artists to their respective arts and fields.

Many young talents from Tamil film industry including Trisha, Simbhu and Jayam Ravi along with some television artists were included in this year's list for 2006. Among those who received the Kalaimaamani award were- Director Bala, Parthipan and Vishal.

There are totally 68 artists in different fields received the awards, which carried a citation, a three-sovereign gold medal and a 'golden' shawl (ponnaadai).

In his speech Chief Minister Karunanidhi told: "I'm proud to present the awards to these artists. It is not the usual custom. These awards will be forced our youngsters to protect our culture and language. Tamil language and culture can be protected and preserved only by collective effort and not by fostering enmity. Even if we happen to fall, Tamil shall live and let others live.