IndianGaurav

Heroes in Art

Showing 121–144 of 254 heroes

MS

Machihan Sasa

A master of Longpi black-stone pottery from Ukhrul who created new everyday wares and trained award-winning potters, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.

  • Padma Shri 2024
  • Manipur
MB

Madhuri Barthwal

A Garhwali folk musician who became All India Radio's first woman music composer in 1979 and teaches folk music free, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022.

  • Padma Shri 2022
  • Uttarakhand
Madugula Nagaphani Sarma speaking at a discourse

Madugula Nagaphani Sarma

A Sanskrit and Telugu poet who revived avadhanam, verse composed on the spot, with over 2,000 performances, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.

  • Padma Shri 2025
  • Andhra Pradesh
Maguni Charan Kuanr during a puppet show in Kolkata

Maguni Charan Kuanr

A rod puppeteer from Keonjhar who kept Odisha's kandhei nacha alive through decades of hardship, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023. He died in 2024.

  • Padma Shri 2023
  • Odisha
MN

Mahabir Nayak

A Nagpuri folk singer and poet from Ranchi who has sung Jharkhand's traditional songs for more than sixty years, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.

  • Padma Shri 2025
  • Jharkhand
MS

Mahabir Singh Guddu

A Haryanvi folk singer and dancer who has performed for fifty years and revived old dance forms, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.

  • Padma Shri 2024
  • Haryana
M&

Maheshbhai & Shri Nareshbhai Kanodia

The Gujarati musician brothers Mahesh and Naresh Kanodia, of Mahesh Kumar and Party, honoured posthumously with the Padma Shri in 2021.

  • Padma Shri 2021 (posthumous)
  • Gujarat
MK

Mahipat Kavi

A Gujarati puppeteer who founded Puppets and Plays in 1973 and wrote over 200 puppet plays, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023. He died in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2023
  • Gujarat
Mamata Shankar speaking at a lecture-demonstration

Mamata Shankar

A dancer, choreographer and actor, daughter of Uday and Amala Shankar, who carries on the Uday Shankar style, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.

  • Padma Shri 2025
  • West Bengal
President Droupadi Murmu presenting the Padma Bhushan to Mammootty at Rashtrapati Bhavan, 2026

Mammootty

The Malayalam film star with over 400 films, three National Awards and ten Kerala State awards for best actor, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Bhushan 2026
  • Kerala
MK

Mangala Kanti Roy

A sarinda player from Jalpaiguri, famed for his bird calls and still performing past 100, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023.

  • Padma Shri 2023
  • Mann Ki Baat #97
  • West Bengal
MB

Matha B. Manjamma Jogati

A transgender Jogati dancer who rose from rejection by her family to become chair of the Karnataka Janapada Academy, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.

  • Padma Shri 2021
  • Karnataka
MH

Mir Haji Kasam

A Junagadh dholak player known as Haji Ramakdu, playing Gujarati folk music for over sixty years, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2026
  • Gujarat
MA

Miriyala Apparao

A Burrakatha storyteller from East Godavari who performed for 53 years and trained 200 students, honoured posthumously with the Padma Shri in 2025.

  • Padma Shri 2025 (posthumous)
  • Andhra Pradesh
Portrait of Mithun Chakraborty

Mithun Chakraborty

A film actor who won the National Award for his first film and has played lead roles in some 300 films, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2024.

  • Padma Bhushan 2024
  • West Bengal
MS

Moa Subong

A Naga musician who invented the bamhum, a bamboo wind instrument, and co-founded the folk fusion band Abiogenesis, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023.

  • Padma Shri 2023
  • Mann Ki Baat #97
  • Nagaland
MM

Murali Mohan

A Telugu actor of over 350 films who founded the Jayabheri group and served as MP for Rajahmundry, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2026
  • Andhra Pradesh
NR

N. Rajam

The violinist known as the "singing violin" for playing Hindustani music in the vocal style, honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Vibhushan 2026
  • Uttar Pradesh
President Droupadi Murmu presenting the Padma Bhushan to Nandamuri Balakrishna at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Nandamuri Balakrishna

A Telugu film star with a career of five decades who chairs Hyderabad's Basavatarakam cancer hospital, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2025.

  • Padma Bhushan 2025
  • Andhra Pradesh
ND

Narayan Debnath

The Bengali comics creator behind Handa Bhonda, Bantul the Great and Nonte Fonte, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.

  • Padma Shri 2021
  • West Bengal
NG

Naren Gurung

A Sikkimese folk singer, composer and researcher who has spent decades reviving Nepali folk songs and dances, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.

  • Padma Shri 2025
  • Sikkim
Portrait of Naseem Bano

Naseem Bano

A Lucknow master of Anokhi Chikankari, an embroidery that leaves no trace on the back of the cloth, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.

  • Padma Shri 2024
  • Uttar Pradesh
NS

Neihunuo Sorhie

A Kohima weaver who has trained hundreds of Naga women on the loin loom and run a crafts shop for 40 years, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023.

  • Padma Shri 2023
  • Nagaland
NC

Nepal Chandra Sutradhar

A Purulia Chhau dancer and mask maker whose ten-headed mask was bought by the National Museums of Scotland, honoured posthumously with the Padma Shri in 2024.

  • Padma Shri 2024 (posthumous)
  • West Bengal