Civilian awards in India are given by the Indian honours system for individual services under different categories. Art including music, painting, sculpture, photography, cinema, theatre etc. is one of the categories under which the Bharat Ratna and the Padma awards — Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri, are given.

The Tamil cine industry has many recipients of these prestigious honours, in art and other fields like 'Literature and Education' which includes journalism, teaching, book composing, literature, poetry, promotion of education, promotion of literacy, education reforms, and 'Public Affairs' which includes law, public life, politics, etc.

MovieCrow presents a comprehensive list of these Bharat Ratna and Padma awardees who have won for, representing, or having worked in the Tamil film industry, bringing laurels to the Tamil Nadu state. 

Bharat Ratna

India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna is given in recognition of exceptional service or performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour.

Bharat Ratna Awardees from Tamil Cinema

1. MGR (1988) - Public Affairs (Posthumous)
2. MS Subbalakshmi (1998) - Art 

Padma Vibhushan

India's second highest civilian honour, Padma Vibhushan is given for exceptional and distinguished service. 

Padma Vibhushan Awardees from Tamil Cinema (Art)

1. MS Subbalakshmi (1975) - Playback Singer
2. M Balamurali Krishna (1991) - Playback Singer, Actor
3. DK Pattamal (1999) - Playback Singer
4. Rajinikanth (2016) - Actor
5. KJ Yesudas (2017) - Playback Singer
6. Ilaiyaraaja (2018) -Music Composer
7. SP Balasubrahmanyam (2021) - Playback Singer (Posthumous)
8. Vyjayanthimala (2024) - Actress

Padma Bhushan

India's third highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan is given for distinguished service of a high order. 

Padma Bhushan Awardees from Tamil Cinema

1. MS Subbalakshmi (1954) - Playback Singer (Art)
2. SS Vasan (1969) - Filmmaker (Art)
3. DK Pattamal (1971) - Playback Singer (Art)
4. Papanasam Sivan (1972) - Music Composer, Lyricist (Art)
5. S. Balachander (1982) - Actor, Filmmaker, Music Composer, Singer (Art)
6. Shivaji Ganesan (1984) - Actor (Art)
7. Jaggayya (1992) - Telugu film industry recipient from Tamil Nadu (Art)
8. Rajinikanth (2000) - Actor (Art)
9. P Bhanumathi (2001) - Actress, Playback Singer (Art)
10. L. Subramaniam (2001) - Tamil violinist who has worked in Indian films (Art)
11. KJ Yesudas (2002) - Playback Singer (Art)
12. T. N. Seshagopalan (2004) - Filmmaker, Actor (Art)
13. P. Leela (2006) - Playback Singer (Art)
14. P. Susheela (2008) - Playback Singer (Art)
15. D Jayakanthan (2009) - Story, Screenwriter (Literature & Education)
16. Ilaiyaraaja (2010) - Music Composer (Art)
17. AR Rahman (2010) - Music Composer (Art)
18. SP Balasubrahmanyam (2011) - Playback Singer (Art)
    
19. Kamal Haasan (2014) - Actor (Art)
20. Vairamuthu (2014) - Lyricist (Literature & Education)
21. Sudha Ragunathan (2015) - Playback Singer (Art)
    
22. Cho Ramasamy (2017) - (Posthumous Award in Literature & Education)
23. Vani Jairam (2023) - Playback Singer (Posthumous Award in Art)
    
24. Vijayakanth (2024) - Actor (Posthumous Award in Art)
25. Ajith Kumar (2025) - Actor (Art)
26. Shobana (2025) - Actress (Art)

Padma Shri

India's fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri is given for distinguished service.

Padma Shri Awardees from Tamil Cinema

1. V. Nagayya (1965) - Actor (Art)
2. P. Bhanumathi (1966) - Actress (Art)
3. Sivaji Ganesan (1966) - Actor (Art)
4. Vaijayantimala (1968) - Actress (Art)
   
5. KB Sundarambal (1970) - Actress, Playback Singer (Art)
6. T.R. Mahalingam (1970) - Actor (Art)
   
7. Gemini Ganesan (1970) - Actor (Art)
8. Balamurali Krishna (1971) -  Playback Singer, Actor (Art)
   
9. Kothamanglam Subbu (1971) - Writer, Director (Literature & Education)
   
10. MK Radha (1972) - Actor (Art)
11. Sirkazhi Govindarajan (1983) - Playback Singer, Music Composer, Actor (Art)
12. K Balachander (1987) - Filmmaker, Writer (Art)
13. L. Subramaniam (1989) - Tamil violinist who has worked in Indian films (Art)
14. Madurai Ponnusamy Natesan-Sethuraman (1990) - Nadhaswaram players who appeared in the Thillana Mohanambal film (Art)
    
15. Kamal Haasan (1990) - Actor (Art)
16. Allu Ramalingaiah (1990) - Tamil, Telugu film actor (Art)
17. K. Viswanath (1992) - Actor, Telugu film writer, Filmmaker
18. Mammootty (1998) - Malayalam film industry recipient from Tamil Nadu (Art)
19. AR Rahman (2000) - Music Composer (Art)
20. Mohanlal (2001) - Malayalam film industry recipient from Tamil Nadu (Art)
21. Thota Tharani (2001) - Art Director/Production Designer (Art)
22. SP Balasubrahmanyam (2001) - Playback Singer (Art)
23. Manorama (2002) - Actress (Art)
24. Mani Ratnam (2002) - Filmmaker (Art)
25. Sukumari Sathyabhama (2003) - Actress (Art)
26. T. M. Soundararajan (2003) - Playback Singer (Art)
27. Vairamuthu (2003) - Lyricist (Literature & Education)
28. Sudha Raghunathan (2004) - Playback Singer (Art)
29. Bharathi Raja (2004) - Filmmaker (Art)
30. KS Chitra (2005) - Playback Singer (Art)
31. Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan (2005) - Violinist, Music Composer (Art)
    
32. Shobana (2006) - Actress, classical dancer (Art)
33. Vaalee (2007) - Lyricist (Literature & Education)
34. Sirkazhi G. Sivachidambaram (2008) - Playback Singer (Art)
    
35. Vivekh (2009) - Comedy Actor (Art)
36. Jayaram (2011) - Tamil, Malayalam film industry recipient from Tamil Nadu (Art)
37. Priyadarshan (2012) - Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi film industry recipient from Tamil Nadu (Art)
38. Director Bapu (2013) - Telugu film industry recipient from Tamil Nadu (Art)
39. Santosh Sivan (2014) - Cinematographer (Art)
40. Drums Sivamani (2019) - Percussionist (Art)
41. Prabhu Deva (2019) - Choreographer (Art)
42. Bombay Jayashri (2021) - Playback Singer (Art)
43. Solomon Pappaiah (2021) - Scholar, TV Personality, Actor (Literature & Education)
44. Sowcar Janaki (2022) - Actress (Art)
45. S. Ballesh Bhajantri (2022) - Shehnai Player (Art)
    
46. Chef Damu (2025) - Chef, TV Personality, Actor (Art)