Manisekaran, Velnambi to get Sr Tamil Scholar and Literary Award

Madurai, Sep 24 (UNI) Eminent Tamil Literary scholars ''Kovi'' Manisekaran and G Velnambi have been selected for this year's C P Adityanar's Senior Tamil Scholar and Literary Awards, instituted by popular Tamil daily, ''Daily Thanthi''.

While Mr Manisekaran has been selected for Senior Tamil Scholar Award, which carries a silver medallion and a cash prize of Rs 1.5 lakh, Mr Velnambi has been selected for the Literary Award, which carries a cash prize of Rs one lakh, a release from the daily here said today.

The two scholars would be honoured with the awards at a function to be held here on September 27, on the occasion of Adityanar's 104th birth anniversary, the release added.

Thanjavur Tamil University Vice Chancellor M Rajendran would present the awards in the prsence of Mr P Sivanthi Adityan, Director of the Daily Thanthi.

Hailing from Vellore, Manisekaran joined Annamalai University at the age of 20 years and learnt Tamil and Music. He was well versed in ancient literature like Tholkappian to modern literatures.

Manisekaran authored more than 1000 historical and social short stories and 120 novels. He won more than 44 awards, including the prestigious Sahitya Academy award, Kalaignar Award, Rajarajan Award, Thiru Ve Ka award and MGR award.

He wrote Ramayana with a new angle in a title called ''Kovi Ramayanam'', which comprised 4000 songs. Four of his novels, including ''Thennageertu'' (palm leaf) have been filmed.

Mr Velnambi, hailing from Salem district, has served as Tamil teacher and penned poetries and plays. His novel ''Payanam'' (Travel) has won him Adityanar's literary award this year.

The novel was based on historical events that took place during the days of late Chief Minister C N Annadurai between 1948 to 1969.

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