Effusive in his praise of acclaimed art director Thotta Tharani for being chosen for the Chevalier award, French Government’s civilian honour, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday said it was a proud moment since a student of the Government Fine Arts College at Chennai is joining the list of eminent personalities across the country who have been bestowed this honour.
“The recognition of the French Government by conferring the honour is a double delight since the Padma awardee has drawn the portrait of Dravidian icon ‘Periyar’ EV Ramasamy, adorning the walls of Oxford University. Congratulations on your achievements acclaimed globally,” he said on his ‘X’ handle, recalling the unveiling of the portrait by him at an event at the university to commemorate the centenary of the Self-Respect Movement of Periyar at St Antony’s College on September 4.
In the Order of Arts and Letters, the Chevalier is the third in rank after Commander and Officer. Tharani will be conferred the award by the French Ambassador Thierry Mathieu at a function in the Alliance Française in Chennai on November 13.
Beginning his career with the Telugu movie Sommokadidhi Sokokadidhi (1978), he made his entry into Kollywood in Kamal Hassan’s Raja Paarvai. He had worked in many blockbusters featuring Kamal Hassan and Rajinikanth, like the cult classics Nayagan and Sivaji.
The prestigious award was first received by thespian Sivaji Ganesan and later by Kamal Hassan and Carnatic singer Balamuralkrishna. French Jesuit priest Fr Pierre Ceyrac, who had dedicated his life to the poor and students primarily in India and among Cambodian refugees, was conferred this in 2006. He had moulded student leaders as director of the All India Catholic University Federation, a student body.
Others who have received this award include filmmaker Mrinal Sen, actors Soumitra Chatterjee, Aishwarya Rai, and Kalki Koechlin. Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan had been conferred the Officer rank.