Chiranjeevi, Mithun Chakraborty, Usha Uthup among 132 conferred with Padma Awards

The government of India announced the Padma Awards on Thursday. People in arts, education, industry, literature, science, acting, medicine, social service, and public affairs received India’s second-highest civilian honors after Bharat Ratna. The awards were announced as always on the Republic Day eve. Vyjayantimala, Chiranjeevi, Mithun Chakraborty, singer Usha Uthup, and composer Pyarelal Sharma are among the 132 recipients of the coveted awards this year.

Chiranjeevi has acted in over 160 films in his decades-long career. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2006, making this his second Padma Award. The actor, who will soon be seen in Vishwambhara, directed by Vassishta of Bimbisara fame, once almost stepped away from films. In a bid to enter politics, he took a hiatus from acting after his 2007 film Shankar Dada Zindabad and founded the Praja Rajyam Party in 2008. However, he returned to his first love, cinema, in 2017 with Khaidi No 150.

Vyjayantimala, the Padma Shri awardee, is regarded as the first female superstar in Indian cinema. She starred in several notable films, including 'Devdas,' 'Naya Daur,' 'Aasha,' 'Sadhna,' 'Gunga Jumna,' 'Sangam,' and 'Jewel Thief.' Her last film remains 'Ganwaar.'

Late Vijayakanth
Besides them, late Tamil actor and politician Captain Vijayakanth has been posthumously recognized with Padma Bhushan for his service. He died in December 2023. Vijayakanth was best known for 'Vaidehi Kathirunthal,' 'Amman Kovil Kizhakale,' 'Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran,' 'Chinna Gounder,' and 'Honest Raj.'

Mithun Chakraborty, Usha Uthup, Pyarelal
Actor, and politician Mithun Chakraborty, Usha Uthup, and Pyarelal Sharma of music duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal have also been awarded Padma Bhushan.

Mithun (73) is one of the most popular actors in Indian films. He began his career with Mrigayaa, which fetched him the National Film Award for Best Actor. His other hits are 'Disco Dancer,' 'Agneepath,' 'Ghar Ek Mandir,' 'Jallad' and 'Pyaar Jhukta Nahin.'

Pop queen Usha Uthup (76), is known as the pioneer of jazz music in Indian films around the 1970s. Some of her evergreen tracks are Ramba Ho, One Two Cha Cha, Shaan Se, Koi Yahaan Nache Nache and Hari Om Hari, among many others.

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