Leading Rabindra Sangeet singer Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya of Bangladesh has been selected by the Indian government for its prestigious Padma Shri award for 2024.
With her rendition of Tagore songs popular on both sides of the border, Bannya, a former student of Vishvabharati in Santiniketan, West Bengal, would receive the award in the category of Art.
She is among the 132 Padma Shri award winners this year, said an Indian Home Ministry statement issued late last night.
‘Padma Shri’ is awarded for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year and are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi usually around March-April every year.
Among other Padma award winners this year are nonagenarian actress Vyjayantimala, actor Mithun Chakraborty, actor Chiranjeevi, pop diva Usha Uthup and music composer Pyarelal Sharma of the famous Laxmikant-Pyarelal duo were among 132 recipients of the coveted Padma Awards for the year 2024 announced on the eve of Republic Day.
Vyjayantimala, 90, and Chiranjeevi, 68, have been chosen for the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian honour awarded for exceptional and distinguished service.
Vyjayantimala starred in many classics from the 1950s and 1960s, including "Devdas", "Naya Daur", "Aasha", "Sadhna", "Gunga Jumna", "Sangam" and "Jewel Thief". She was awarded Padma Shri in 1968.
Mithun Chakraborty, Usha Uthup and Pyarelal Sharma have been awarded Padma Bhushan.
Seventy-three-year-old Mithun has had a prolific career in Indian cinema with numerous hit movies, starting from his debut in Mrinal Sen-directed ''Mrigayaa'', for which he won the National Film Award for Best Actor, to Bollywood films like ''Disco Dancer'', ''Agneepath'', ''Ghar Ek Mandir'', ''Jallad'' and ''Pyaar Jhukta Nahin''.
Usha Uthup, 76, is known for her distinct voice that gave her an edge over her contemporaries and made her a jazz pioneer for Indian cinema-goers in the 1970s. Some of her memorable tracks included ''Ramba Ho'', ''One Two Cha Cha'', ''Shaan Se'', ''Koi Yahaan Nache Nache'' and ''Hari Om Hari''.
Pyarelal Sharma, 83, began his Bollywood career in 1963. The Laxmikant-Pyarelal duo emerged as one of the most successful music composers with a repertoire ranging from the ''Ek Pyaar Ka Nagma Hai'', ''Sheesha Ho Ya Dil Ho'', playful ''Hum Tum Ek Kamre Mein Band Ho'' to foot-tapping hits like ''Jumma Chumma De De'' and ''Ek Haseena Thi''.
Chiranjeevi is one of the top stars from South Indian cinema, having worked in over 150 feature films in Telugu as well as Hindi, Tamil and Kannada. Some of his popular films include ''Rudra Veena'', ''Indra'', ''Tagore'', ''Swayam Krushi'', ''Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy'', ''Stalin'' and ''Gang Leader''. He was previously honoured with Padma Bhushan in 2006.
Tamil actor and politician Vijayakanth, who passed away in December 2023, has been posthumously recognised with Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order. End
Padma Awards, one of the highest civilian awards of India, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The Awards are given in various disciplines/fields of activities, art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports and civil service.
BDST: 1155 HRS, JAN 26, 2024
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