Karnataka Ratna awards will be presented to late Kannada film icon Dr Vishnuvardhan and veteran actress B Sarojadevi on November 19. This was announced by Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi at a press confer…

Karnataka Ratna awards will be presented to late Kannada film icon Dr Vishnuvardhan and veteran actress B Sarojadevi on November 19. This was announced by Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi at a press conference in Bengaluru on Friday (October 30).Karnataka govt mulls new selection process for Rajyotsava AwardsThe minister said efforts were being made to invite superstar Rajinikanth and actresses Lakshmi and Suhasini to the ceremony.The government had initially planned to present the awards on November 14, but Chief Minister D K Shivakumar finalised November 19 as the date.”The Karnataka Ratna awards will be presented to Dr Vishnuvardhan and B Sarojadevi on November 19. The chief minister himself will present the awards at a grand function,” Tangadagi said.He said efforts were also being made to invite Rajinikanth from Tamil Nadu.”He (Rajinikanth) is a Kannadiga who has become the No.1 actor in Tamil cinema. Since he belongs to Karnataka, I’ave decided to make efforts to bring him here,” he said.The minister said 71 personalities would be honoured with the Rajyotsava awards on November 1, marking 71 years of the formation of Karnataka.Each awardee would receive Rs 5 lakh in cash and a 25-gram gold medal, he said.The minister explained that the selection had been made to ensure representation to women, different districts and various sections of society. Twelve women figure among this year’s awardees.The selection process involved five subcommittees and a high-level committee, he said, adding that the government had not invited applications for the awards in the last two years and had instead identified deserving personalities directly and considered recommendations.Among those selected for the Rajyotsava awards are former minister Kagodu Thimmappa, Teresa Bhattacharya, Umapathi, Vishwanath Suvarna, Prasad Bidappa, Babuji Venkataramana, Ashok and Subbaiah.(With inputs from agencies)

Source: Deccan Herald