The Central Government announced on the eve of the sixty sixth Republic Day. It is well known that Narendra Modi’s efforts in winning Rajinikanth’s support during the 2014 polls were unfruitful. In 2009, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India.
Advertisement
Senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, actors Ajay Devgn and Priyanka Chopra, Bahubali director S.S. Rajamouli and Bhojpuri singer Malini Awasthi will be awarded Padma Shri.
Over 100 people will receive Padma awards and 10 out of them will get Padma Vibhushan. Sculptor Ram Sutar, former CAG Vinod Rai and theatre personality Heisnam Kanhailal also feature in the Padma Awards 2016 winners list.
Actor Rajinikanth is being conferred Padma Vibhushan, while Kher and Narayan are being awarded the Padma Bhushan and Priyanka Chopra and Ajay Devgn are being bestowed with Padma Shri. Saeed Jaffrey will be awarded posthumously. Reports suggest that megastar Rajinikanth has been awarded with the highest honour of the Padma Vibhushan while Anupam Kher is the recipient of Padma Bhushan.
Advertisement
The awards seek to recognise work of distinction and are given for distinguished achievements in all fields of activities as art, literature and education, sports, medicine, social work, science and engineering etc.
