Poet Vaali conferred with MAC Award

CHENNAI: On the occasion of the birth anniversary of industrialist Dr MA Chidambaram Chettiar on Wednesday, also the founder’s day of MAC Charities, popular lyricist-poet Vaali was presented the Dr MA Chidambaram Cheittar Award for his contribution to Tamil poetry.  Tamil scholar Dr SV Shanmugam, who has worked in various capacities in the Annamalai University, including director, for over three decades, was presented the Dr Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar Award.   Presenting the award at the birth anniversary celebrations, Dr AC Muthiah, son of MA Chidamabaram, noted that MAC charities had assisted several educational institutions monetarily. In his acceptance speech, Vaali acknowledged the role that former chief minister MGR, musician MS Visvanathan and lyricist Kannadasan played in shaping his future.  “I wish to remember writer-freedom fighter Kalki, who launched my handwritten magazine in Trichy, which carried my first published work,” he recalled. “Even though I had written famous film songs, it was my songs for the MGR-starrer Padakoti, which took my fame to new heights. I would be nothing without these people in my life,” the writer said on a poignant note.MP Ramachandran, founder of Jyothy Laboratories, was presented the Dr AC Muthiah Award for first-generation entrepreneurs. All three awards had a cash prize of `1 lakh. Ramachandran donated his prize money to MAC Charities.