Hyderabad, Jan 25 (NationPress) Chandramouli Gaddamanugu, an esteemed aerospace engineer, played a crucial role in overseeing the Akash Missile System from its inception to its execution during Operation Sindoor. Alongside him, acclaimed actors Maganti Murali Mohan and Babu Rajendra Prasad, as well as renowned Kuchipudi dancer Deepika Reddy, are among 11 distinguished individuals from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh who have been honored with Padma Shri awards for their exceptional contributions in various fields.

Out of these, seven individuals hail from Telangana while four represent Andhra Pradesh, all selected by the Government of India for one of the nation's most prestigious civilian honors.

Chandramouli Gaddamanugu (from Telangana) is recognized as a pioneering aerospace engineer who successfully directed the Akash Missile System, significantly enhancing national security through innovative research.

Veteran actor Maganti Murali Mohan, originally from Andhra Pradesh, boasts an impressive career in Tollywood, having appeared in or produced more than 350 films over the span of 60 years. He is also noted for his extensive philanthropic efforts in health and education.

Rajendra Prasad, another veteran actor from Andhra Pradesh, has an illustrious career that spans five decades, during which he has acted in over 240 films.

Deepika Reddy (from Telangana) is a celebrated Kuchipudi dancer and a global cultural ambassador, whose five-decade-long career has significantly elevated the profile of Indian classical dance internationally.

Garimella Balakrishna Prasad (from Andhra Pradesh) received the Padma Shri posthumously. He was a distinguished classical vocalist, composer, and writer, known as 'Asthana Vidhwan', who composed tunes for numerous Annamacharya Sankeerthanas, developed new ragas, and performed at over 5,000 concerts.

Guduru Venkat Rao (from Telangana) was honored with the Padma Shri for his medical contributions. As a prolific gastroenterologist, he has performed over 12,000 surgeries and 16,000 endoscopies and was the first to execute a Transoral Endoscopic Appendectomy. He has also played a pivotal role in developing a 'macro-encapsulation device' for diabetes management.

Krishnamurty Balasubramanian (from Telangana) is a leading material scientist specializing in critical minerals, and has made groundbreaking advancements in India's defense and space capabilities, created prosthetic implants, and developed materials for cryogenic engines. His work has propelled the fields of electric mobility, biomedical devices, and metallurgical innovation.

Kumarasamy Thangaraj of CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, is a transformative geneticist recognized for his impactful research in genetics and genomics, which has laid the groundwork for Indian population science by tracing genetic origins and migration patterns.

Palkonda Vijay Anand Reddy (from Telangana) is a renowned oncologist who pioneered the first Perioperative Brain Interstitial Implant and introduced Hypo-fractionated Radiotherapy and Short-course Radiation for cancer treatment. He is also the founder of the CURE Foundation.

Rama Reddy Mamidi, a trailblazing social worker, was awarded the Padma Shri posthumously for establishing a Women's Dairy Cooperative, reinforcing rural cooperatives, empowering women, and influencing national cooperative legislation.

Vempaty Kutumba Sastry (from Andhra Pradesh) is a distinguished Sanskrit scholar and visionary administrator who dedicated five decades to promoting the language globally. He has headed multiple Sanskrit universities and authored significant books and papers.