MM Keeravani conferred Padma Sri, Chinna Jeeyar Swamy gets Padma Bhushan

NEW DELHI: Renowned music composer of Tollywood MM Keeravani, spiritual preacher Chinna Jeeyar Swamy were among the recipients of the prestigious Padma awards announced by the Centre on Wednesday.

Keeravani, who is eyeing a historic Oscar Award for the song Naatu, Naatu of RRR, was felicitated with Padma Sri Award under the music category. Chinna Jeeyar Swamy was conferred Padma Bhushan in recognition of his services in the spiritual sphere.

Prof. Ramakrishna Reddy and Modadugu Vijay Gupta were among the other Padma Sri awardees from Telangana. In all, five eminent personalities from Telangana received the Padma honours which included two Padma Bhushan awards.

On the other hand, Dr Sankuratri Chandrasekhar of Sri Kiran Eye Hospital in Kakinada was among the seven personalities from Andhra Pradesh who were conferred the Padma awards. Pasupuleti Hanumantha Rao (medicine), Abbareddy Nageswara Rao (Engineering), CV Raju for his services in the field of music and Kota Sacchidananda Sastry (arts) were the other Telugus who received the Padma awards.

In all, the Centre has announced 106 Padma awards including six Padma Vibhushan and nine Padma Bhushan honours while the rest being Padma Sri awards. The recipients include 19 women.

Among the most popular of the awardees from across the country were former Samajwadi Party president late Mulayam Singh Yadav, world-renowned tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, Kumara Mangalam Birla, Sudha Murthy and Vani Jayaram. While Mulayam Singh Yadav was conferred Padma Vibhushan posthumously for his services in the field of public affairs, Zakir Hussain received Padma Vibhushan for art. On the other hand, K M Birla got Padma Bhushan for trade and industry, Vani Jayaram and Sudha Murthy were honoured with Padma Bhushan for their distinguished services in the fields of music and social work respectively.