Tamil Nadu Government’s Kalaimamani Award function for the year 2007 that happened in Kalaivanar Arangam was a filmy event than being a government award function. The reason is that the majority among the 72 awardees were film personalities.

Tamil Nadu CM M.Karunanidhi gave away the prestigious award in the presence of the state’s Governor Surjit Singh Barnala. Celebs like Bharath, Asin and Harrish Jayaraj were present to receive the award while Bharathanatiyam dancer Shwetha Gopalan, Meera Jasmine, Shobana, Saroja Devi, director Cheran and Nayantara were absent.

Sources close to director Cheran and Saroja Devi had it that it was so dishonourable for them to receive the award with newbie actors. They claimed that it was too late that the government had recognized their contribution to the art.

Even after these controversies, the Kalaimamani award committee has announced that the award will be sent to the respective awardees who did not make it to the function. It is worthy to mention here that actor Vineeth who was not in the awardees’ list earlier also received it later during the function.

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