I was proud yesterday for the delayed but deserving Oscar award for AR Rehman and Resul Pookutty, but today I am appalled reading the list of Kalaimamani (TN Government) awardees for 2009. Are awards given to accomplished citizens or given to those who are politically connected? It is not a billion dollar puzzle and you don’t have sit on the hot seat and bite your nails or use one of your lifelines to answer. Just look at Central Government’s awardees of Padmashri, Padmabushan, and Padma Vibushan and Tamil Nadu State Government’s Kalaimamani awards and you will know the answer. Atleast there is a synergy between State and Central government when it comes to awards.
What is shocking about 2009 Kalaimamani awardees is that accomplished veteran actor Saroja Devi (in the film industry for more than 5 decades) is given the award along side Aishwarya Danush who has made no contribution to the society or film industry other than being the daughter of Rajinikanth. Young artist like Barath, Nayanthara, Meera Jasmine and Asin need encouragement, but do they need Kalaimamani with less than a decade experience in the movie industry. It looks like the jury panel made random selection from the telephone book. If I were Saroja Devi I would have politely declined the award.
Let us not forget that tainted Satyam Computer Services Ltd. was awarded the Golden Peacock Award for Corporate Governance last year. May be awards are never earned but always purchased.
Be it Corporate awards, Oscar, Padmashri or Kalaimamani – awards lose value and sheen if they are not given to the right talent and at the right time. Government and respective bodies must be transparent with the criteria for selection of awardees and the members on the jury panel.
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