NEW DELHI: Acting genius Kamal Haasan, renowned vocalist Parveen Sultana and popular lyricist and poet Vairamuthu have been awarded with the Padma Bhushan while the versatile Vidya Balan has been honoured with the Padma Shri by President Pranab Mukherjee.

The dignified ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan was attended by Vice President M Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, among others.

Renowned ghatam percussionist T H Vikku Vinayakram also received the Padma Bhushan, which is the third highest national civilian award.

Recipients of the Padma Shri include famed Bangla actor Sabitri Chatterji, actor Naina Apte Joshi, celebrated theatre director Bansi Kaul and filmmaker Sooni Taraporevala.

Others awarded include popular humour poet and satirist Ashok Chakradhar, Manipuri dancer Elam Indira Devi, Odissi dancer Geeta Mahalik and squash player Dipika Rebecca.