Kerala - Kochi
Mappila Kala Akademi awards presented

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said here on Saturday that the Kerala Mappila Kala Akademi had played a significant role during the past five years to preserve and promote the Mappila art forms in Kerala.

He was inaugurating the award presentation ceremony of the Mappila Kala Akademi on the occasion of the Mappila Arts Festival. The Chief Minister also presented the fellowships and awards instituted by the Akademi to veteran artists, writers and scholars.

M.N. Karassery, Department of Malayalam, Calicut University and the Mappilappattu artiste V.M. Kutti received the fellowships.

Singer Peer Mohammed received the Gul Mohammed Award. Kanesh Punoor, poet and lyricist, received the Meher Award. Writer Balakrishnan Vallikunnu was presented the K.K. Mohammed Abdul Kareem Award. Veteran journalist K.P.Kunhimoosa was given the Vakkam Maulavi Puraskaram. Duff Muttu artiste Kappad Usthad received the Khadi Mohammed Award and the veteran Kathaprasangam artiste Ayisha Begum was given the M.A. Aziz Award.

K.Babul, MLA, the Congress leader M.A. Shanavas, K. Sudhakaran, K.K. Abdul Rehman, chairman of the Kerala Mappila Kala Akademi Qatar chapter, Sumi Thiruvannur, Sharja Chapter chairman, vice-chairman Vadakara Krishnadas and Akademi president P.H. Abdulla spoke. Vandoor Aboobecker presided.
(The Hindu - May 7, 2006)