Legendary actress Padmini passes away
Padmini Ramachandran, who was amongst the first heroines to make it big in the Tamil film industry, died of a heart attack in Chennai at 3 am Monday morning. She was 74. Born in Poojappura in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on June 12, 1932, Padmini started learning classical dance at the age of four and at the age of ten,she had her arangettam or dance debut. Her entry into the film world was rather unexpected. The legendary dancer Uday Shanker, on seeing her dance performance invited her to act in the film he was making. Thus Padmini became the heroine of the Hindi film Kalpana and started a career in Movies spanning a period of over 40 years. The film garnered her a lot of appreciation. More so, because of her eclectic style and charismatic dance moves.
Padmini had two sisters, Lalitha and Ragini who were also dancers. The trio was popularly known as the “Travancore sisters”. Her first Tamil film Manamagal (1950), which was directed by N S Krishnan, was a huge hit. This was followed by Thooku Thooki, which saw the Travancore sisters dance to the song "Sundari Soundari." Her first movie with Shivaji Ganesan was Panam(1950). Panam was the beginning of a partnership that saw Sivaji and Padmini star together in 60 films.
Veteran actor Nagesh passed away this morning at a City Hospital in Chennai after prolonged illness. He was 75. Nagesh (Born on September 27, 1933) was a veteran Indian comedian actor in Kollywood who had acted in more than 1000 films. He was more than a comedian and showed his versatility in different kind of roles with ease and professional approach. As a character artiste, he moved the viewers to tears with his sensitive performance in films like Neer Kumizhi, Yarukkaga Azhuthan and Edhir Neechal. 
CHENNAI: At a time when the city is basking in the success of its own Mozart’s victory at the Oscars, it is raining awards here with the Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday announcing Kalaimamani awards for Saroja Devi and others who have made a significant contribution to their respective fields. The awards are given by the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mantram. Aaduthurai-based Sree Sankaranarayana Sabha has been selected for the best theatre group and Tamil Isai Mantram in Thiruvaiyaru the best art institution. Some of the recipients of the award expressed their joy and excitement. 
The yesteryears actress of high caliber Dr B Saroja Devi who was heroine to both N.T.Rama Rao and Rajakumar in many films besides being heroine to M.G.Ramachandran, Shivaji Ganeshan, Gemini Ganeshan, Dilip Kumar, Kalyankumar and others gets a distinction. Within a few days gap the two states – Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh announced awards for this leading lady Dr B Saroja Devi the Padmabushan award winner. Both the awards instituted in the names of heroes of the actress coming to her made her extremely happy. 
Yesteryear actress B Saroja Devi has been chosen for the prestigious N T Rama Rao National Film Award for 2009. Noted director K Raghavendra Rao has been chosen for the B N Reddy National Film Award while media baron and film producer Ch Ramoji Rao has been chosen for the Nagireddy- Chakrapani National Award instituted by the Andhra Pradesh. Another producer K Raghava has been chosen for the Raghupati Venkaiah Award, the Telugu equivalent of Dada Saheb Phalke Award. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy will present the awards at a function here on December 12.