Thaindian News

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 25 (IANS) Malayalam poet O.N.V. Kurup was Tuesday named for the Padma Vibhushan, while popular actor Jayaram, filmmaker Shaji N. Karun, architect G. Sankar and Mohiniattam dancer Kshemavathy Pavitharan were among those from Kerala to get Padma honours.Kurup, who received the Jnanpith Award last year, said his efforts in promoting Malayalam language had been rewarded.

“I am more happy when I see many are happy that I got this award,” said Kurup, who had earlier won a Padma Shri.

He was the fifth Malayali to have received the highest literary award in the country. ONV, as he is popularly called, is also a known lyricist and had won the National Award in 1989 for best lyricist for the film “Vaishali”.

While Late ayurveda physician and scholar K.Raghavan Thirumulpad was given the Padma Bhushan posthumously, Kathakali artist M.Vasudevan Nair was also named for the third highest civilian honour.

Actor Jayaram, who has acted in films like “Thooval Kottaram” and “Sneham”, was named for a Padma Shri along with noted filmmaker Shaji N. Karun, known for movies like “Vanaprastham” and “Kutty Srank”.

G. Shankar, the architect who has been building cost effective homes for nearly two decades, also figured in the Padma Shri list.

Sankar said he is delighted. “I never expected this. In the past few years I was told that my name was in the list but I never got it and so now that I have got this, I am happy.”

Neurosurgeon A. Marthanda Pillai and cardio-thoracic surgeon Jose Chacko Periappuram were named for the Padma Shri in the field of medicine. Azad Moopen, a Malayali physician-turned-entrepreneur based in United Arab Emirates, has been named for the award for his distinguished service in social work.

Peruvanam Kuttan Marar, known for his mastery on the ‘chenda’ (drum) and Mohiniattam dancer Kalamandalam Kshemavathy Pavithran will also be honoured with the Padma Shri.