Padma Awards 2024: Usha Uthup, Vijaykant, Mithun Chakraborty, Vyjayantimala, and Chiranjeevi will get honors
The Padma Awards were announced by the Indian government on Thursday. Following Bharat Ratna, the second-highest civilian honors in India were given to those in the fields of the arts, education, industry, literature, science, acting, medicine, social service, and public affairs. As usual, the prizes were revealed on the eve of Republic Day. Among the 132 winners of the prestigious honors this year are composer Pyarelal Sharma, singer Usha Uthup, actor Vyjayantimala, and actor Chiranjeevi.
Vyjayantimala and Chiranjeevi were awarded the Padma Vibhushan.
The second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, was given to Vyjayantimala (90) and Chiranjeevi (68).
Over the course of his decades-long career, Chiranjeevi has appeared in over 160 films. This is his second Padma Award; he was given the Padma Bhushan in 2006. The actor, who is set to feature in Vassishta of Bimbisara fame’s Vishwambhara, almost took a break from acting. Following his 2007 film Shankar Dada Zindabad, he took a break from acting in an attempt to pursue politics, founding the Praja Rajyam Party in 2008. But in 2017, he made a comeback to his first love—the movies—with Khaidi No 150.
The Padma Shri recipient Vyjayantimala is recognized as the pioneering female superstar in Indian movie history. She acted in a number of well-known movies, such as Jewel Thief, Gunga Jumna, Devdas, Naya Daur, Aasha, and Sadhna. Ganwaar is still her final movie.
departed Vijayakanth
In addition to these, late Tamil politician and actor Vijayakanth received a Padma Bhushan as a posthumous recognition for his services. In December 2023, he went away. The films Vaidehi Kathirunthal, Amman Kovil Kizhakale, Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran, Chinna Gounder, and Honest Raj are the ones for which Vijayakanth is most renowned.
Usha Uthup, Mithun Chakraborty, and Pyarelal
In addition, Padma Bhushans have been given to actor and politician Mithun Chakraborty, Usha Uthup, and Pyarelal Sharma of the musical group Laxmikant-Pyarelal.
One of the most well-liked performers in Indian cinema is Mithun, 73. His breakthrough performance was in Mrigayaa, for which he won the National Film Award for Best Actor. Disco Dancer, Agneepath, Ghar Ek Mandir, Jallad, and Pyaar Jhukta Nahin are some of his other songs.
Usha Uthup, 76, is a pop queen who is credited with introducing jazz music to Indian cinema in the 1970s. Ramba Ho, One Two Cha Cha, Shaan Se, Koi Yahaan Nache Nache, and Hari Om Hari are just a few of her timeless songs.
There are 110 Padma Shri Awards, 17 Padma Bhushan, and five Padma Vibhushans on the list. Thirty of the 132 recipients are female. Nine posthumous awards and eight individuals from the foreign category are also included on the list.
