The names of seventy artistes who will revive Kalaimamani awards presented by the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nadaga Mandram were announced on Tuesday. These people have been selected for their contribution in the field of art and literature in 2008.

Some of the recipients are Abhirami Ramanathan( film producer), Cheran and C Sundar (film directors), B Saroja Devi, Asin, Nayanthara, Meera Jasmine, Bharat and Pasupathi (film actors), Vaiyapuri (comedian), Harris Jayaraj and Sivamani (musicians), Avvai Natarajan and Masilamani (Tamil scholars), Suki Sivam (orator), Maharajapuram Sreenivasan, A V S Sivakumar, Embar Kannan, Vazhuvoor Ravi and Veeramani Raju (Carnatic musicians), Muthappa and Sirkazhi S Jayaraman (music teachers), Aishwarya Rajnikanth, Vasantha Vaikunth, Sangeetha Kapilan and Kayalvizhi Kapilan (Bharata Natyam dancers); and Sundar K Vijayan, Thiruselvan and Abhishek (small-screen artistes).

Nayanthara said: “It feels really great when you get awards. I am truly honoured and thank the Government for the encouragement they bestow on artists like me who have along way to go. This award is special to me.”

Sivamani said: "My reaction to receiving this award is the same as that of my brother A R Rahman when he received his Oscars. It all goes to the almighty. I owe all my performances and awards to God. I take this award as a blessing from my elders in the Tamil Nadu government."