Mylapore Fine Arts Club Confers Nataka Kala Nipuna Title on Mapillai Ganesh

The Mylapore Fine Arts Club in Mylapore conferred the prestigious 'Nataka Kala Nipuna' title on veteran director, producer, and stage actor 'Mapillai' Ganesh on Sunday, July 5, 2026. The honour was presented during the formal inauguration ceremony of the club's 22nd annual Drama Festival.

Speaking at the inaugural event, Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, prominent industrialist and the president of The Mylapore Fine Arts Club, lauded the contributions of Mr. Ganesh to the stage. Chetti observed that Mr. Ganesh possessed a unique ability to get under the skin of any character he portrayed. He added that the actor's co-artists also consistently gave life to the characters they played on stage, making the productions highly engaging.

Chetti further remarked that the dramas produced by Mr. Ganesh centred primarily around events that occurred within a family. This thematic focus, according to the club president, allowed contemporary audiences to easily relate to the stories and performances presented on the stage.

Theatre director Bombay Chanakya also addressed the gathering at the Mylapore venue. Chanakya highlighted the long-standing tradition of the host institution, noting that for the last 22 years, The Mylapore Fine Arts Club had been consistently honouring and encouraging drama artistes through this annual festival.

In his tribute to the awardee, Chanakya described Mr. Ganesh as a highly dependable and committed artiste. He traced Mr. Ganesh’s career back to its inception in 1981, noting that the actor has remained highly successful in the theatre field for the last 45 years. Furthermore, Chanakya praised Mr. Ganesh for sincerely running his own drama troupe for the last 25 years.

After accepting the 'Nataka Kala Nipuna' title, Mr. Ganesh addressed the audience. He stated that for any theatre artiste, receiving such prestigious awards and gaining appreciation from the audience truly went a long way. He added that this recognition serves to encourage and push performers to do more in their creative endeavours on the stage.