Date:16/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/16/stories/2006081617630500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

DD to institute `Podhigai Awards'

Staff Reporter

Two CDs released from archives of Prasar Bharati

REMEMBERING AN ARTIST: G. Jayalal, Deputy Director General of AIR (South Zone), hands over a video compact disc of Sirkazhi Govindarajan to composer M.S. Viswanathan. N.G. Srinivasa, Deputy Director General of Doordarshan (centre), looks on. — PHOTO: K. PICHU MANI

CHENNAI: The Doordarshan Kendra, Chennai, will institute from next year `Podhigai Awards' for recognising contributions of people in different fields, including art and sport, its Director T.S. Gagan announced here on Tuesday.

Addressing a function to release two CDs from the archives of Prasar Bharati, Mr. Gagan said, "Recording and presentation of archives are one of the most valuable contributions of Doordarshan in the fields of creative arts and classical music in recent years. If you look at the national scenario, Chennai is the biggest centre of our activities. We are not only doing big business in the sale of these CDs and VCDs but are also contributing towards changing the value system among youth."

"I would like to announce Podhigai awards for excellence in the fields of literature, science, folk arts, theatre, sports and social service. The first set of awards shall be presented on the occasion of Pongal 2007," he said.

The CDs released on the occasion were `Arupadai Veedu' by the late Kripananda Vaariyaar and `Deiva Thamizh Malai' by the late Sirkazhi S. Govindarajan.

Former Minister R.M. Veerappan, who presided, recalled his closeness with both Vaariyaar and Govindarajan.

`Arupadai Veedu'

N.G. Srinivasa, Deputy Director-General, Marketing, South Zone, handed over the first copy of `Arupadai Veedu' to industrialist Nalli Kuppuswamy Chetty. G. Jayalal, Deputy Director-General, South Zone, All India Radio, handed the other CD to composer M.S. Viswanathan.

Among those who spoke were former Director of Doordarshan Kendra, Chennai, A. Natarajan; Chief Engineer of AIR and TV, Chennai, S. Ramaswamy; M. Murali of Sri Krishna Sweets; `Sukhi' Sivam and Tamil scholars Arivoli and Saraswathi Ramanathan.