PALAKKAD: The Kerala State Film awards will be presented at a colourful function to be held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium Grounds on Saturday evening.
A cultural extravaganza, showcasing the cultural ethos of Palakkad, will mark the beginning of the function at 5 pm. The cultural programmes include farm songs (sung during sowing and harvesting) by Shedanan Anikath and Janardhanan Pudussery, Kizhakkan Karakkattom, Poykutirakali, Vettuvan Kaniarpattu, Kavadiyattom , Kalakalli, Pannankali and Porottamkali.
Sargasangeetham, a musical performance by renowned singer Ramesh Narayan will follow. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the award presentation ceremony. Speaker Sreeramakrishnan will release the souvenir by handing over a copy to Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala.
The Chief Minister will honour celebrities who have completed five decades in the industry including Madhu, Sarada, Sheela, K J Yesudas, Sreekumaran Thampy, M K Arjunan and Kaviyoor Ponnamma. Oscar award winner Resul Pookutty will also be honoured.
A music night featuring eminent singers P Jayachandran, Naresh Iyer, Ramesh Narayan, Anuradha Sreeram, Manjari, Madhusree, Bijipal, Gopi Sundar and Shreya will follow. A dance performance by actors Rima Kallingal, Anusree, Shamna Kasim, Jyothi Krishna, Parvathy Nambiar and Samudra Thiruvananthapuram will add colours to the occasion. Tini Tom and Pashanam Shaji will present caricature and skits.
Actors from Tamil film industry including Tamil Nadigar Sangham president Nasser, actor and director Bhagyaraj, wife Poornima Bhagyaraj and Khushboo will attend the function. They will be joined by actor Jayaram, Prathap Pothen and Priyamani.
The organisers have booked as many as 150 rooms in the town for the artistes and support staff.
The rehearsal for the programme Sargasangeetham was held on Friday. The programme named ‘Heaven to Earth’ will include musical compositions from the Beethoven days to the Devarajan era.
A 4,800-square feet mega stage has been set for the music and dance show. The green room for the programme has an area of 1,600 sq ft. There will be 8,000 chairs and the gallery can accommodate 15,000 persons.