Ilayaraja presents cash awards to four scholars

Madurai, Mar 27 (UNI) Four Tamil Scholars were presented with cash awards by the Ilayaraja Literary Association at an impressive public function here today.

Modernist poet and short-story writer Vannadasan (S Kalyana Sundaram) were honoured with the 'Pavalar Varadarasan Award for Tamil Scholars', named after the maestro's late brother, which comprised Rs two lakh cash and a citation, 'Isai Gnnani Ilayaraja Award for Young Researchers,' comprising Rs 50,000 cash besides a citation, was presented to Sethupathi and poet Pazhani Bharathi, also a popular film lyricist.

The music maestro gave away the awards.

Gyan Pith awardee and a doyen of Tamil literature Jayakanthan and noted film director Bharathi Raja were among those who addressed the function.

Earlier, the CD of the film 'Ajanta,'for which Ilayaraja is the music director, was released along with a CD of the maestro's complete works. The venue, the sprawling medical college grounds in the city was crowded with thousands of people.

Ilayaraja had recreated an oratorio of select classical hymns of Saivite saint-poet Manickavasagar, first of its kind in the country and a classical cross-over.

UNI