Shobhana Chandrakumar Honored with Padma Bhushan
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Synopsis
Acclaimed actress and Bharatanatyam dancer Shobhana Chandrakumar has received the prestigious Padma Bhushan award for her extensive contributions to the arts. With an impressive career spanning over four decades, Shobhana continues to inspire future generations through her dedication to classical dance and cinema.
Key Takeaways
- Shobhana Chandrakumar awarded Padma Bhushan.
- Over 40 years in arts and cinema.
- Two-time National Film Award winner.
- Accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer.
- Runs a dance school in Chennai.
Chennai, Jan 25 (NationPress) Acclaimed actress and Bharatanatyam performer Shobhana Chandrakumar has been awarded the esteemed Padma Bhushan for her significant impact on the arts.
This recognition marks a pivotal moment in her remarkable career, which has flourished for over four decades.
Previously honored with the Padma Shri in 2006, Shobhana has garnered numerous awards throughout her journey. In 2013, she received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship (Kalarathna), and in 2011, she was awarded the Kalaimamani Award by the government of Tamil Nadu.
She has also been granted honorary doctorates from Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation (2018), Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute (2019), and Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit (2022).
A Diverse Journey in Arts and Cinema Shobhana has primarily appeared in Malayalam, Telugu, and Tamil cinema, with more than 230 film appearances.
She is a two-time winner of the National Film Award for Best Actress for her roles in the Malayalam classic Manichithrathazhu (1993) and the English film Mitr, My Friend (2001). Additionally, she secured the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in Manichithrathazhu.
Her other prominent accolades include two Filmfare Awards for Best Actress for Innale (1990) and Thenmavin Kombathu. Shobhana began her acting career as a child artist, winning the Tamil Nadu State Award for Best Child Artist in 1980 for her role in Mangala Nayagi.
As an adult, she made her debut in Malayalam on April 18, 1984, under the direction of Balachandra Menon, and in Tamil with Enakkul Oruvan (1984), directed by S.P. Muthuraman.
In the 1990s, Shobhana occasionally featured in Tamil films alongside actors like Sathyaraj, Bhagyaraj, and Vijayakanth, often portraying stylish, modern roles that ultimately fall for rural heroes.
Beyond acting, Shobhana is recognized as an exceptional Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer. She trained under esteemed gurus Chitra Visweswaran and Padma Subrahmanyam. Shobhana operates a dance school, Kalarpana, in Chennai, where she continues to cultivate young talent and promote classical dance.
Shobhana is also related to the legendary Travancore sisters—Lalitha, Padmini, and Ragini—who were celebrated dancers and actresses in their era.
Her extraordinary path in the arts, along with her commitment to classical dance and cinema, establishes Shobhana Chandrakumar as a true icon and a source of inspiration for future generations.
