PTI
 
New Delhi, Mar 20: Veteran Malayalam filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Infosys CEO Nadan Nilekani and Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande were among 42 personalities from various fields who were given prestigious Padma awards in New Delhi on Monday evening.

 Adoor, social activist Krishnaswamy Rao Sahib and Deshpande were bestowed with Padma Vibushan honour.

Eminent cardiologist Uprendra Kaul, aviator Vijaypat Sighania (Padma Bhushan), leading banker Deepak Parekh of HDFC (Padmashri), Tata Consultancy Services chief Ramadorai (Padma Bhushan), acclaimed filmmaker Sai Paranjape (Padma Bhushan) and veteran actor A K Hangal (Padma Vibhushan) were also conferred the honours.

Tennis sensation Sania Mirza, who was chosen for Padmashri, was among eight awardees who were not present to receive the honour.

The awards were presented by President A P J Abdul Kalam at a function at the Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan which was attended by Vice- President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Besides three Padma Vibushan, 16 personalities were conferred Padma Bhushan and 23 others were given Padmashri awards.