Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday announced that the Kalaignar Ninaivu Kalaithurai Vithagar Award for 2024 and 2025 will be awarded to veteran actor MN Rajam and veteran film actor SP Muthuraman.
Rajam is one of the leading actresses of Tamil cinema who started her acting in stage plays at a young age and debuted as a child artist in several successful films including Rathakkanneer, Pennin Pedenin, thangapathum, Nadodi Mannan, Pasamalar, Thaali Bakiyam and Mangayar Thilakam.
Acting in more than 200 Tamil films, she later took up supporting roles like mother and mother-in-law and secured a permanent place in the hearts of the audience. Her maternal roles in films like Arangetram and Oorukku Uzhaippavan are particularly remembered. She is also the first woman registered with the Association of South Indian Artists and has received several awards for her long service in the field of art, an official release said.
Muthuraman started his career as an assistant director with Kalathur Kannamma in 1960 and became one of the most successful commercial directors in Tamil cinema from the 1970s to the 1990s. He has directed more than 70 Tamil films.
Some of his notable films include Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai, Bhuvana Oru Kelvikuri (1977), Oru Oodhappoo Kan Simittugirathu (1978), Murattu Kaalai, Engeyo Ketta Kural (1982) and Sakalakala Vallavan (1985). He has received several awards for his contribution to Tamil cinema and is also well known for his simplicity, integrity and humility.
Both the awardees will receive a cash prize of ₹ 10 lakh each along with a memento from the Chief Minister, the report said.
Published – 06 Feb 2026 23:38 IST