Bangaru Adigalar, the founder of the spiritual Adhiparasakthi Movement in Melmaruvathur, ace table tennis player Sharath Kamal and accomplished transgender danseuse Narthaki Natraj are among the seven personalities from Tamil Nadu to be awarded the Padma Shri, one of the country’s highest civilian awards.

Elderly social worker Chinna Pillai of Madurai, who shot to limelight when then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee fell at her feet at an awards ceremony and well known percussionist Anandan Sivamani, better known by his stage name ‘Drums’ Sivamani, have also been conferred the prestigious award.

Two eminent doctors — plastic surgeon Ramaswami Venkataswami, who founded the Institute for the Research and Rehabilitation of Hand and the Department of Plastic Surgery at Stanley Medical College, Chennai; and Coimbatore-based ophthalmologist R V Ramani — are the other recipients of the award this year.