35 National Award-winners want Phalke Award for Bharathirajaa

Thirty-five filmmakers, actors, producers and writers — all National Award-winners — have appealed to the Government of India requesting Dadasaheb Phalke Award for director Bharathirajaa.
In a letter sent to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, they wrote, “On this special day of Shri Bharathirajaa’s 78th birthday, we from Indian film industry, recognized by Government of India for our works appeal to you to consider him for this year’s coveted Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest award in cinema, which will be a fitting tribute to this living legend and a right recognition at the right time for his huge contribution to Indian Cinema with multiple achievements for over 43 years.(sic)”
The signatories include actors Kamal Haasan, Dhanush and Suhasini Mani Ratnam, directors Mani Ratnam, Vetri Maaran, Bala, Cheran, Priyadarshan, and KS Sethumadhavan, producers Kalaipuli S Thanu, L Suresh and SR Prabhu, lyricist Vairamuthu, and editors Sreekar Prasad and B Lenin, among others.