When heard Padma Vibhushan for Chiranjeevi, first thought about Mammootty; received Padma Shri in 1998, still standing there even after a quarter century, says V D Satheesan

Opposition leader V D Satheesan said that Padma awards are still far away from many talented people. Satheesan said that if an Indian film star is considered for the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan, the first name in the list should be that of Mammootty. When the Padma Awards were announced the other day, there were criticisms on the social media for not considering Mammootty.

In a Facebook post, Satheesan said the value of an honour is enhanced when it reaches the most deserving hands. The Padma awards are still far away from many talented people like T Padmanabhan, Sanu Mash, C Radhakrishnan, Sarah Joseph, Sajitha Shankar, Sujatha Mohan, M N Karissery, Nedumudi Venu, Dr M V Pillai, Deepan Sivaraman and Dr V S Vijayan. The list of people who have upheld extraordinary excellence, sense of freedom, good thoughts and democratic values in their fields of work will go on and on.

When read the news of Padma Vibhushan for Chiranjeevi and Padma Bhushan for Mithun Chakraborty in the newspapers the other day, the first thing I thought was about Mammootty. Mammootty received the Padma Shri in 1998. Mammootty is still standing there even after a quarter of a century. I don't need to go into his film career or his acting career. If an Indian film star is considered for the Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, there is no doubt that the first name in the list should be that of Mammootty.

Sreekumaran Thampy is a contemporary of P Bhaskaran Master and ONV. He deserves the Padma award. Why is that name missing from the award list?

Padma awards are the honor given by the country. The respect given by the country should make the beautiful and magnificent concept of India more vivid.

Congratulations to all the award winners.