Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami today greeted the Padma awardees from the state, including musician Ilayaraja (Padma Vibhushan) and archaeologist Ramachandran Nagasamy, awarded Padma Bhushan.
The Chief Minister heaped praise on Ilayaraja, and said he has scored music for films in various languages including Tamil, Hindi and Kannada.
Further, Ilayaraja had 'expertise' in folk, Carnatic and Western forms of music, Palaniswami said in a statement.
"I proudly extend my hearty greetings (to Ilayaraja) for receiving Padma Vibhushan, the country's second highest (civilian) award," he said.
74-year-old Ilayaraja, who has been conferred with Padma Bhushan in 2009, was selected for Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award after Bharat Ratna.
The Central government had yesterday announced the Padma awards.
The Chief Minister greeted Nagasamy, who was awarded Padma Bhushan, and hailed his work in the field of archaeology.
He also lauded other Padma awardees-- V Nanammal (Yoga), Vijayalakshmi Navaneethakrishnan (folk song exponent), Rajagopalan Vasudevan (patented a technology for laying roads from plastic waste) and wildlife conservationist Romulus Whitaker, all of whom have been selected for Padma Shri.
Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and DMK Working President M K Stalin also congratulated the Padma awardees.
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