Rajinikanth to LV Prasad: South stars, who won the Dadasaheb Phalke award

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest honour in cinema, is presented annually at the National Film Awards ceremony. Every year a member of the film industry is conferred the honour. Today, the central government announced that Superstar Rajinikanth will be the recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke award, for his excellence in cinematic achievement. Here's a look at the stars from the South, who have been conferred with the highest honour in films, awarded by the government.

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LV Prasad started his journey in the film industry as an actor before venturing into filmmaking as an assistant director, director, cinematographer, and producer. LV Prasad, who is a two-time National Award winner, and Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award winner, was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke award for his contribution to cinema and his craft.

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Late Sivaji Ganesan was one Tamil star who was known for his versatile performances on the screen. The actor, who was bestowed with several top honours over the course of his film career, was conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1997. Fondly called Nadigar Thilagam, he was also the first Indian actor to bag the Chevalier award.

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Director K Balachander, who has a filmography that boasts of several hit Tamil and Telugu films, was honored with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2010. He will forever be regarded as the person who gave the country its Superstar - Rajinikanth. He introduced Rajinikanth into cinema and was instrumental in launching Kamal Haasan as a hero. Balachander is also the recipient of nine National Film Awards and 13 Filmfare awards.

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Megastar Rajinikanth on Thursday became the 51st member of the film industry to be conferred with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar made the official announcement stating that the star is being awarded for his excellence in cinematic achievement. Rajinikanth will receive the award at the 67th National Film Awards that will be held on May 3. Rajinikanth made his debut in the 1975 Tamil film 'Apoorva Ragangal'. He has delivered super hit films such as 'Billu', 'Muthu', 'Baashha', 'Sivaji', and 'Enthiran' among many others.

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