The 15th edition of the Norway Tamil Film Festival (NTFF), which took place in the end of April, celebrated not just cinematic excellence but also social impact with the introduction of the new honor, ‘the Kalaimagan Award’. This year the recipient of this award is actor and activist Soundara raja, recognised for his decade-long commitment to environmental conservation and organic farming.
Soundara Raja, is a familiar face in the Tamil cinema industry, with memorable roles in films like Jigarthanda (2014), Theri (2016), Sundarapandiyan (2012), Kadaikutty Singam (2018), Bigi (2019) and Pathu Thala (2023), was applauded for his continuous efforts off-screen through his initiative Mannukkum Makkalukkum (For the Land and The People).
Under this initiative, Soundara Raja has been actively involved in promoting sustainable agriculture and raising environmental awareness. He founded the Mannukkum Makkalukkum Nammalvar Award, named after the late G.Nammalvar, a agricultural scientist and green crusader of Tamil Nadu. This award is to honor those making significant contribution to ecological preservation and organic farming.
Accepting the award, Soundara Rajan shared an emotional message,
“I love the environment and agriculture since I hail from an agricultural family. I have been working to conserve our environment for around a decade. I have planted over 40,000 saplings since then. I have been in films too since then had received a few awards. But nothing feels special like this one. This ‘Kalaimagan’ award will provide the impetus to take my initiative forward”.
The Kalaimagan Award aims to spotlight artists who go beyond their craft to influence society in a positive way. With Soundara Raja as it’s first honouree, the award holds a powerful significance in celebrating individuals who blend art, activism, and environment advocacy.
Sources: Cinema Express
