Does national recognition come belatedly for south Indian artistes?

Legendary playback singer S. Janaki , who passed away on July 11, 2026, had declined the Padma Bhushan , arguing that the honour had come far too late in her career. She maintained that artists should be recognised when they are at the height of their creative powers rather than in their old age or after death. A similar debate has long surrounded the Jnanpith Award as well, with critics arguing that several outstanding writers from south India have been overlooked despite their enduring contributions to Indian literature. Are these concerns justified? Does national recognition come belatedly for south Indian artistes? T.M. Krishna and A.R. Venkatachalapathy discuss this question in a conversation moderated by B. Kolappan .