BiggBoss Season 7 Malayalam contestants when informed that Lalettan had received the Dadsaheb Phalke award had no clue about what it was all about, Many had heard about Mammootty’s Dadasahib film but not the award. JioHotstar that felicitated Lal the host of BB show played a AV which ends with the line yoimgest Indian to get this honour. Biju Chandran ex DD Director research has shown that actually Mohanlal and Prithviraj Kapoor are two reciepents who got award at age of 65. The first reciepent on wards atleast half a dozen of the winners are below 65. Now if the Lal line can be altered to youngest Keralite to get the award, it is not possible. Adoor Gopalkrishnan the first Keralite to get the homour was only 64.
We knew that
Latha Mangeshkar was 60 when she got the award. Devika Rani who got the first award
was 60. Other in 50=64 age group reciepents; Naushad, Satyajit Ray. Raj Kapoor
were other who were less than 65 ( age of Lal) when they got Phalke award.
While we
debate about Phalke award not going to Mammootty, Madhu and Kamal Haasan, a new
person to join the list of complantants list is singer Sujatha Mohan's daughter Swetha. Swetha
who got the Tamil Nadu Government equivalent of a Phalke award called Kalaimamani
says that each year her mother’s song is send to national jury and it gets
rejected. Sujatha got her Kalaimamani four years back but her mentor the
legendary Yesudas got it only this year. Yesudas who began his career in
Chennai and settled down in the metro is now based in USA where his son lives. It would be a treat to see him share the stage with Swetha for Kalaimamani. Pro’s Diamond Babu and Nikil Murugan have this year got the honour.
Devi Mani
veteran journalist who got the award says that free bus pass has yet to reach
him. My friend Late Cinema Express Ramamiirthy got his honour during
Karunanidhi period and it surprised us as he was a ardent Jayalalitha bhakt,
Not many know that Krishnamoorthy of Soorya film and Arts Society based in
Thriuvanthapuram is a recepent of this honour. Those who promote Tamil literature
arts and culture can get this award. I remember the Consul of French Embassy addressing
Film News Anandan as Mr Kalai – Ma- Mani. Anandan visting card had this title
printed before his name. Vikram Prabhu son of actor Prabhu was a recipient this
year.
