Republic Day is often associated with the prestigeous Padma Awards.
This year, dancer-duo V. P. Dhananjayan and Shanta Dhananjayan receive Padma Bhushan award.
Vocalist Aruna Sairam and Kathakali artiste Kalamandalam Gopi receive Padma Shri awards.

The Dhananjayans

V. P. Dhananjayan and Shanta Dhananjayan are senior disciples of the legendary Smt. Rukmini Devi and celebrated Kalakshetra alumnae.
The duo has been performing Bharatanatyam together for more than five decades.
The duo run a Bharatanatyam school - Bharatakalanjali in Chennai.

Aruna Sairam

Learnt from her mother Rajalakshmi Sethuraman and the legendary singer T. Brinda, Aruna is one of the popular vocalists in Carnatic music.

Kalamandalam Gopi

Vadakka Manalath govindan popularly known as Kalamandalam Gopi, is a notable representative of the Kalluvazhi school in Kathakali.
Now in his 70s, he was teaching at Kerala Kalamandalam from 1958 till his retirement.