One of India’s highest civilian honours, the Padma Awards, were announced by the government on the eve of Republic Day in 2024. The three designations are Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan. Each year, they are bestowed for individuals who excel in a variety of sectors, such as the arts, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, commerce and industry, health, sports, education, and literature.

While Padma Bhushan is granted for highly distinguished service of a distinguished calibre, Padma Vibhushan is given for extraordinary and distinguished service. People who have distinguished themselves in any discipline are awarded the Padma Shri. Indian actors shone well, judging by the Padma Award winners list.

The famous Padma Vibhushan award was given to veteran actor Chiranjeevi, who has a long and distinguished career in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada movies. Because of his services to Indian film, he received the Padma Bhushan in 2006. The Padma Vibhushan was also given to seasoned dancer and actress Vyjayantimala Bali. Celebrities like actor Mithun Chakraborty, music director Pyarelal Sharma, and vocalist Usha Uthup have been bestowed with the esteemed Padma Bhushan. Vijayakanth, the late Tamil actor and politician, received posthumous honours. He passed away in 2023.

Vyjayanthi Mala started her career in Tamil film and quickly made the switch to Hindi cinema, where she ruled the 1950s and 1960s. But she never allowed her acting profession to overshadow her inner classical dancer. She was a charismatic presence on television, captivating the audience with her multi-emotional, glittering eyes. With the same grace and elegance, she portrayed a rustic beauty in Ganga Jamuna (1961), a courtesan in Amrapali (1966), and an urban sophisticate in Sangam (1964).

After starring in Punadhirallu in 1978, Chiranjeevi has ruled the Telugu cinema scene for over fifty years. The actor joined politics in 2008 when he founded the Praja Rajyam Party, which subsequently joined forces with the Indian National Congress. In addition, he held the independent position of Union Minister of State for Tourism from October 27, 2012, until May 26, 2014.

This is Mithun Chakraborty’s first Padma honour. The Padma Bhushan will be given to Vijayakanth posthumously. The date of his death was December 28, 2023.

Padma Subrahmanyam, Anupama Hoskere, Jankilal, Ratan Kahar, Dasari Kondappa, Jordan Lepcha, Binod Maharana, Uma Maheshwari D, Ram Kumar Mallick, Surendra Mohan Mishra, Ali Mohammed & Shri Ghani Mohammed, Kiran Nadar, Dattatray Ambadas Mayaloo, Pyarelal Sharma, Khalil Ahamad, Badrappan M, Kaluram Bamaniya, Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, Naseem Bano, Ramlal Bareth, Gita Roy Barman, Parbati Baruah, Som Datt Battu, Takdira Begum, Ashok Kumar Biswas, Smriti Rekha Chakma, A Velu Ananda Chari, Ghulam Nabi Dar, Mahabir Singh Guddu, , Omprakash Sharma, Godawari Singh, Seshampatti T Sivalingam, Urmila Srivastava, Nepal Chandra Sutradhar, Gopinath Swain, Laxman Bhatt Tailang, Jagdish Labhshanker Trivedi, Balakrishnan Sadanam Puthiya Veetil and Babu Ram Yadav, Narayanan E P, Bhagabat Padhan, Sanatan Rudra Pal, Binod Kumar Pasayat, Silbi Passah, Shanti Devi Paswan & Shri Shivan Paswan, Romalo Ram, Nirmal Rishi, Pran Sabharwal, Gaddam Sammaiah, Machihan Sasa.

Chiranjeevi and Vyjayantimala bestowed with Padma Vibhushan.

The Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award, has been given to Vyjayantimala (90) and Chiranjeevi (68). With a career spanning decade, Chiranjeevi has acted in over 160 films. His first Padma Award was the Padma Bhushan in 2006; this is his second. The actor nearly took a break from acting, but he is back in the spotlight after starring in Vassishta of Bimbisara fame’s Vishwambhara. After starring in Shankar Dada Zindabad in 2007, he decided to pursue a career in politics and took a break from acting to form the Praja Rajyam Party in 2008. But with Khaidi No 150, he made a comeback to his first love the movies in 2017.

Considered the first female superstar in Indian movie history is Vyjayantimala, the recipient of the Padma Shri award. In addition to Devdas, she starred in Gunga Jumna, Sangam, Naya Daur, Aasha, Sadhna, and Jewel Thief. Ganwaar is still her final film.

Vijayakanth, departed in addition to these, Padma Bhushan was given to late Tamil actor and politician Vijayakanth in recognition of his services. December 2023 saw his passing. The films that made Vijayakanth most famous were Honest Raj, Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran, Amman Kovil Kizhakale, and Vaidehi Kathirunthal.

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. 

Jazz music in Indian cinema from the 1970s is credited to pop queen Usha Uthup (76). Among many more, some of her timeless songs include Ramba Ho, One Two Cha cha, Shaan Se, Koi Yahaan Nache Nache, and Hari Om Hari. Among the awards are 110 Padma Shri, 17 Padma Bhushan, and five Padma Vibhushan. Thirty are women among the 132 recipients. In addition to the nine deceased awards, the list includes eight individuals under the category of Foreigners.

Usha Uthup, Vyjayantimala, Chiranjeevi, and Mithun Chakraborty will be awarded the honour.

While actor and politician Vijayakanth, who passed away in December 2023, has been posthumously recognised with Padma Bhushan, presented for distinguished service of high order, the 90-year-old veteran actress and the 68-year-old South Indian superstar have been bestowed with the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian honour awarded for their exceptional and distinguished service.

The renowned musical team Laxmikant-Pyarelal, comprising of vocalist Usha Uthup, composer Pyarelal Sharma, and composer Mithun Chakraborty, have also been granted the Padma Bhushan honour. The list of Padma Awards also included renowned Bharatnatyam dancer Padma Subrahmanyam and proprietor of Bombay Samachar, Hormusji N Cama.

Padma 2024 recipients from the entertainment and artistic industries

Notable figures in the fields of literature and art include the philanthropist and art collector Kiran Nadar, the bhajan singer Kaluram Bamaniya, the kathak master Ramlal Berath, and the well-known Gujarati poet-novelist Raghuveer Choudhary.

The artists Khalil Ahamad, Badrappan M, Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, Naseem Bano, Gita Roy Barman, Som Datt Battu, Takdira Begum, and Drona Bhuyan are among the many talented individuals who have received awards.

There are 110 Padma Shri Awards, 17 Padma Bhushan, and five Padma Vibhushans in the extensive list. Thirty women were among the winners, which is noteworthy. Eight people were included in the Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI category, while nine recipients were posthumous.