Heroes in Art (page 9)

Reba Kanta Mahanta

The head of Khatpar Sattra in Sivasagar and a master of Sattriya mask-making, whose masks are in museums worldwide, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.

Padma Shri 2025
Assam

Rewben Mashangva

A Tangkhul Naga singer from Ukhrul known as a pioneer of Naga folk blues, who runs a folk music academy and museum, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.

Padma Shri 2021
Manipur

Ricky Kej

A Bengaluru composer and three-time Grammy winner who uses music to campaign for the environment with UN agencies, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.

Padma Shri 2025
Karnataka

Risingbor Kurkalang

A Khasi folk musician from East Khasi Hills who handcrafts and plays traditional Khasi instruments, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023.

Padma Shri 2023
Mann Ki Baat #97
Meghalaya

Ritwik Sanyal

A Dhrupad singer of the Dagar tradition and former dean of performing arts at BHU who has trained thousands of students, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023.

Padma Shri 2023
Uttar Pradesh

Romalo Ram

A Dogri folk singer and retired teacher who revived the folk forms Geetru and Bhakh, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.

Padma Shri 2024
Jammu and Kashmir

Ronu Majumdar

A bansuri maestro of the Maihar gharana, Grammy-nominated, who led a Guinness-record concert of 5,378 flautists, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.

Padma Shri 2025
Maharashtra

S Ballesh Bhajantri

A shehnai player and disciple of Ustad Bismillah Khan, called the Bismillah Khan of the South, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022.

Padma Shri 2022
Tamil Nadu

S P Balasubramaniam

The playback singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, who sang over 40,000 songs in many languages, honoured posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan in 2021.

Padma Vibhushan 2021 (posthumous)
Tamil Nadu

Sadanam P. V. Balakrishnan

A Kathakali performer, choreographer and teacher who led Delhi's International Centre for Kathakali for 27 years, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.

Padma Shri 2024
Kerala

Sanatan Rudra Pal

A Kolkata sculptor famous for towering Durga idols whose studio employs about a hundred artisans, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.

Padma Shri 2024
West Bengal

Sangyusang S. Pongener

A Nagaland guru who has preserved Ao Naga folk songs and dances for six decades, training 2,000 young artists, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

Padma Shri 2026
Nagaland

Sarat Kumar Patra

An ikat weaver from Nuapatna who spent seven years weaving the whole Gitagovinda onto a 52-metre cloth, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

Padma Shri 2026
Odisha

Satish Shah

The actor loved for Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi and Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, honoured posthumously with the Padma Shri in 2026.

Padma Shri 2026 (posthumous)
Maharashtra

Satyaram Reang

A Bru folk artist from South Tripura who spent his life performing and teaching the Hojagiri dance and Bru folk songs, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.

Padma Shri 2021
Tripura

Seshampatti T. Sivalingam

A leading nadaswaram player with more than fifty years on radio and stage who teaches students worldwide, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.

Padma Shri 2024
Tamil Nadu

Shah Rasheed Ahmed Quadri

A master craftsman of Bidriware, the inlaid metalwork of Bidar, who has shown the craft around the world, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023.

Padma Shri 2023
Karnataka

Shanti Devi and Shivan Paswan

A Mithila artist couple from Laheriaganj who developed the Godna style of Madhubani painting, jointly honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.

Padma Shri 2024
Bihar

Sharda Sinha

The folk singer known as "Bihar Kokila", whose Chhath songs became part of the festival itself, honoured posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan in 2025.

Padma Bhushan 2018
Padma Vibhushan 2025 (posthumous)
Bihar

Shatavadhani R. Ganesh

A Kannada scholar who revived the art of avadhana, with over 1,300 performances and 70 books, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2026.

Padma Bhushan 2026
Karnataka

Sheesh Ram

A 1971 war veteran from Meerut who served 40 years in the Army and now paints soldiers' courage and sacrifice, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022.

Padma Shri 2022
Uttar Pradesh

Shekhar Kapur

The director of Masoom, Mr. India, Bandit Queen and Elizabeth, who took Indian filmmaking to world audiences, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2025.

Padma Bhushan 2025
Maharashtra

Shivnath Mishra

A Benaras gharana sitarist who plays Dhrupad, Khayal, Thumri and Tappa styles on the sitar, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022.

Padma Shri 2022
Uttar Pradesh

Shobana

A Bharatanatyam dancer and two-time National Award-winning actor known for Manichitrathazhu, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2025.

Padma Bhushan 2025
Tamil Nadu