CHENNAI: In a recognition that shines a light on quiet excellence across art, culture and science, the Union government, on the eve of the 2026 Republic Day, announced the Padma Shri awards for six distinguished personalities from Tamil Nadu -- mridangam maestro Thiruvarur Bhakthavathsalam, natural veterinary science expert Dr Punniamurthy Natesan, veteran Othuvar Tiruttani Swaminathan, master bronze sculptor Rajastapathi Kaliappa Goundar, cultural face of the Alu Kurumbar tribal community R Krishnan and renowned Silambattam exponent K Pajanivel, honouring their decades-long contribution to preserving and enriching India's cultural and knowledge traditions.
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World-renowned mridangam exponent Thiruvarur Bhakthavathsalam has been chosen for the Padma Shri for his lifetime contribution to Carnatic percussion. Born in 1956 in Thiruvarur into a traditional musical family, Bhakthavathsalam was initiated into the art by his uncle and guru, Thiruvarur TR Krishnamurthy. He made his concert debut at the age of nine and moved to Chennai at 16.
Fondly hailed as the 'King of Laya', his career reached a global milestone in 1992 when he represented India at the Barcelona Olympics opening ceremony. He has accompanied three generations of Carnatic greats, from Madurai Somu and ML Vasanthakumari to contemporary artistes such as Mandolin Srinivas and TM Krishna.
He also founded Laya Madhuraa and conceptualised the Mridanga Yagnam, uniting 108 mridangam artistes on a single stage. A recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2006), Kalaimamani and the Sangita Kalanidhi (2021), Bhakthavathsalam said the Padma Shri was an honour to the mridangam itself and to the discipline it demands.
Thanjavur-based veterinary scientist Dr Punniamurthy Natesan has been awarded the Padma Shri for pioneering natural and traditional veterinary medicine. A former professor at the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS), Dr Natesan devoted his career to developing low-cost, indigenous treatments for livestock diseases.
His research-based natural therapies have been adopted across India and in several countries abroad. The National Dairy Development Board in Gujarat has implemented his methods on over one million cattle, reporting a success rate of around 85 per cent.
His work has proved effective against ailments such as foot-and-mouth disease and hoof infections. "This award recognises the wisdom of traditional Tamil veterinary knowledge and its relevance even today," he said, adding that he would continue working for farmers despite retirement.
Veteran Othuvar Tiruttani Swaminathan has been honoured with the Padma Shri for his six-decade-long service to Saivite devotional music, particularly Thevaram hymns. A defining moment came in 1954 when Carnatic legend Madurai Somu recognised his voice and urged his formal training.
He began his career as an Othuvar at 17 and later served the Tiruttani Murugan temple for 26 years, earning wide recognition.
He has rendered Thevaram recitals across India and abroad, released over 50 recordings, and trained several generations of Othuvars. A recipient of Kalaimamani, Thirumurai Kalanidhi and other honours, Swaminathan said the Padma Shri was a blessing for a life spent in the service of the Lord and Tamil sacred literature.
Master sculptor Rajastapathi Kaliappa Goundar has been selected for his exceptional contribution to bronze sculpture. With nearly five decades of experience, Goundar is the founder of Balamurugan Bronze Arts Works, a workshop known for producing large sacred bronzes rooted in Agama and sthapathya traditions.
His sculptures, created using the traditional lost-wax method perfected during the Chola era, adorn temples and public spaces across India and overseas. By blending classical proportions with contemporary craftsmanship, Goundar has played a key role in sustaining a living artisanal tradition.
"The award belongs to every artisan who keeps this ancient craft alive," he said, describing the honour as recognition for generations of sthapathis working behind the scenes.
R Krishnan, popularly known as Kidna, was the cultural face of the Alu Kurumbar tribal community of the Nilgiris, who revived a nearly 3,000-year-old indigenous art form. Hailing from Kotagiri, Krishnan single-handedly preserved the community’s distinctive painting tradition for over three decades after learning it from his grandfather. He rescued the ancient “Ezhuthu Paarai” rock-art style from extinction by adapting it from temple walls to canvas. Using only natural pigments derived from leaves, bark and minerals, his works vividly documented tribal life, flora, fauna and rituals. Krishnan passed away in April 2025, leaving behind a lasting artistic legacy.
Renowned Silambattam exponent K Pajanivel of Puducherry has been honoured for his outstanding contribution to India’s traditional martial arts. The 53-year-old native of rural Poornankuppam has dedicated over four decades to mastering and teaching Silambattam. Pajanivel has trained thousands of students, promoting the art as a means of physical fitness, mental focus and self-defence. Expressing joy over the recognition, he said the award validates years of rigorous practice and teaching, and reaffirmed his commitment to passing on the ancient martial tradition to future generations