CavinKare ABILITY Awards 2013

Venue: Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall 
Harrington Road, Chennai

Jury:
Gayathri Sriram – Managing Director, Ucal Auto Private Limited
Sanjeev Kotnala – Vice President – Brand Communication, Dainik Bhaskar Group
Dr. Mariazeena Johnson – Director, Sathyabama University 
G. Dhananjaya – Chief – South Business – Studios, Disney UTV
Mr. Radha Mohan – Filmmaker
BlaaZe – Rap Artist & Playback Singer

Guest of Honor:
Mr. Vinod K Dasari – Managing Director of Ashok Leyland Limited

The event…
The 11th CavinKare Ability Awards at the Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao concert hall on the 9^th March was a showcase of excellence and inspiration as we recognised the immense achievements of each recipient. This year a special recognition award was given to nine-year-old Hridayeshwar Singh Bhati, the young inventor of six player chess. He was joined on stage with Deepa Malik, RJ Den and Samuel Ashish Marcus who each received a mastery award, and Ranjan Kumar Biswal, Founder of the Milton Charitable Foundation, who received the award for eminence.

Intermixed with inspiring speeches made by the jury members and guest of honour, Mr Vinod K. Dasari, the stage was lit up with elegant Orissi dance performances by the acclaimed Meera Das and her disciple Lopamudra Jena who performed in front of a backdrop of stars in the sky.

Although composer A.R.Rahman could not join us this year, he sent us his Infinite Love – the music video released in 2012 to celebrate the diversity of all life and culture around the world. In a touching and energising performance, children of the Clarke School for the Deaf, Deafblind and children with multiple disabilities, the VExcel Educational Trust for Children with Special Education Needs, and students from the Academy of Modern Danse took to the stage, joined by rap artist Blaaze.

This was a year of reflection and looking inwards as Dr. Mariazeena Johnson pledged to have her visiting cards printed in Braille, Gayathri Sriram urged the media to provide equal, positive coverage of persons with disabilities and the audience watched on in awe, providing standing ovations again and again.