Held at Sir Mutha Venkata Subba Rao auditorium on 5th March 2011, the event was a dazzling affair with mind blowing performances and bonhomie amidst saluting the spirit of women, as they chase their dreams.
This International Women’s Day, the JFW Women Achievers Awards 2011 featured 8 spectacular stories of women who have dared to dream and had the tenacity to wage their own battles and emerge victorious. The awardees this year include Padmashri Aruna Sairam (Music), Anita Nair (Literature), Anju Bobby George (Sports), Malavika Sarukkai (Performing Arts), Parvathy Omanakuttan (Fashion), Vidya Reddy and Nancy Veronica (Social Work), Khushbu and Saina Nehwal (Newsmakers 2010).
The awards were given away by singer Srinivas, Mariazeena Johnson (Managing Director of Sathyabama University), fashion designer Rehane, Dr. Rajkumar (Chairman of Lifeline Group), US Consul General Mr. Andrew Simkin and his wife, Mrs. Bess SImkin and Bina Sujit (Editor, JFW). The event was dazzled by scintillating performances which included an unplugged session with singers Srinivas and Shweta Mohan, a fusion dance by Divyadarshini and Priyadarshini followed by a fashion show choreographed by Sanjay Asrani and squash champion Dipika Pallikal was the showstopper for the evening. The event was hosted by Vijay Adhiraj.
JFW Women Achievers award 2011 was powered by Sathyabama University. The associate sponsors include Preethi range of home appliances and Kapoor’s Diamonds, New Delhi. The event is supported by Café Coffee Day and Radio One.
About JFW:
JFW (Just for Women) is a women’s fashion and lifestyle magazine with a strong presence in South India covering Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Pondicherry, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Started three years ago, JFW was an effort to fill in the absence of a specific magazine catering to women down South. Incredibly stylish, highly spirited and super smart, JFW captures the pulse of modern living.
About Options Media Pvt. Ltd:
Options Media Pvt Ltd is the publishers of Club Class (a magazine which is circulated among members of seven prestigious clubs in Chennai) and JFW (a women’s magazine with a strong presence across South India). This integrated media house set up in the year 2004 has extensive business interests in publishing, branded entertainment and television.
About the awardees:
Aruna Sairam (Excellence in Music):
A versatile classical singer, Padmashri Aruna Sairam has traversed beyond boundaries with her music, taking her art to the global platform. She has won many prestigious accolades including the Padma Shri, the Kalaimamani and the US Congress Proclamation of Excellence for her music. She is also the advisor to the Department of Culture, Tamil Nadu for Musical Education. Regarded as the Music Ambassador of India, she has taken Indian classical music to the World.
Anita Nair (Excellence in Literary Work):
Renowned author Anita Nair has written numerous bestselling novels in her unique style of expression, taking us on a journey towards the poignant and unique, commonplace and rare. Among her more prominent novels like The Better Man and Ladies Coupe, which have been translated in 21 languages, Anita Nair’s literary list includes Mistress (2003), Adventures of Nonu, the skating squirrel (2006), Living Next Door to Alise (2007) and Magical Indian Myths (2008). Her novel Mistress was on the Orange Prize long list in the UK.
Anju Bobby George (Excellence in Sports):
Having been born in a family of sportspersons, it was natural for Kerala born Anju Bobby George to take up sports. In 2005, she achieved a rare feat by winning the silver medal at the IAAF International Association of Athletics Federations World Athletics Final. She was conferred the Padma Shri in the year 2004. She was awarded the Arjuna award in 2002-2003 and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in the year 2003-2004, after her success in the World Athletic meet. However, her biggest achievement was scaling the distance between the 61st spot in 2001 to the 6th spot in the year 2003.
Malavika Sarukkai (Excellence in Dance):
Malavika Sarukkai started learning Bharatanatyam at the tender age of seven. She trained under Guru Kalayanasundaram of the Thanjavur School and Guru Rajaratnam of the Vazhuvoor School. As a passionate path breaking dancer from India, she has contributed a significant and large body of work. Malavika Sarukkai’s work is celebrated by critics, connoisseurs and the general public.
Parvathy Omanakuttan (Excellence in Fashion):
Parvathy Omanakuttan (Excellence in Fashion):
The Miss World 2008 winner is all about beauty and substance. Parvathy became the cynosure of the entire nation when she won the title of Miss India 2008 with her beauty, grace, charm and wit. she went on to win 1st Runner Up Miss World in 2008. Parvathy has also walked the Red Carpet at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2009.'
Vidya Reddy and Nancy Veronica (Excellence in Social Work):
Vidya Reddy and Nancy started Tulir, which in Tamil means the first tender leaves of a plant. This Centre for the Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse (CPHCSA) is a registered, nongovernmental, non-profit organization committed to working against child sexual abuse in India. Tulir creates awareness on child sexual abuse in order to endorse child safety and protect the rights of the child.
Khushbu (Newsmakers 2010):
Being one of the most outspoken artists in the industry, Khushbu has always stood for her beliefs. In the year 2005, the actress made news when she made comments regarding premarital sex. With political parties targeting her, burning her effigies and holding demonstrations, the brouhaha that ensued landed her in a tight spot. However, no amount of censure could shake her conviction. In April 2010, her position was vindicated when the apex court ruled in her favour, dismissing the charges made against her.
Saina Nehwal (Newsmakers 2010):
The Golden girl of Indian badminton, Saina nehwal, made Indian proud by securing the second spot in world ranking late last year after her back to back victories in international tournaments. She is the top most ranked woman player in India’s badminton history. Saina Nehwal won 2010 Commonwealth games gold in the women's singles badminton event.
