NEW DELHI: India‘s actor of yesteryear actor Shashi Kapoor, actress Kajol, singer Usha Uthup and first woman photographer Homai Vyarawalla,were among those who were conferred the Padma awards at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
President Pratibha Devisingh Patil gave away the awards at a function attended among others by Vice- President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and several union ministers.
Vyarawala and Telugu actor A Nageshwara Rao were honoured with the Padma Vibhushan.
Theatre artist Satyadev Dubey, Shashi Kapoor, legendary Rabindra Sangeet exponent Dwijen Mukherjee, and journalist and author T J S George were decorated with the Padma Bhushan.
The Padma Shri awardees included filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli, carnatic vocalist S R Janakiraman, actors Kajol and Irfan Khan.
The presentation today was the first part of the ceremony, in which just over 60 persons were honoured. Another ceremony will be held shortly for the rest of the awards which were announced on the occasion of Republic Day this year.
Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order; and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.
