Several prominent personalities from cinema, public life, literature, and sports have been named among this year’s Padma awardees, announced on the eve of Republic Day. Veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra and former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan are among the five individuals honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian award, conferred posthumously.
The other recipients of the Padma Vibhushan include noted jurist K.T. Thomas for public affairs, renowned classical violinist N. Rajam for her contribution to the arts, and scholar P. Narayanan in the field of literature and education.
The Padma Awards are considered one of India’s most prestigious civilian honours and are presented annually in three categories — Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri — to recognise exceptional service across diverse fields.
