Superstar Rajinikanth has been awarded the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award this year. The announcement was made on Thursday morning by Union Minister Prakash Javadekar who took to Twitter to make a congratulatory tweet for Thalaiva. The jury included prominent names from across the film and music industry including Shankar Mahadevan, Asha Bhosle, Malayalam actor Mohanlal, filmmaker Subhash Ghai, and Bengali star Biswajeet Chatterjee.

मुझे इस बात की अत्यंत खुशी है कि 2019 का दादासाहेब फ़ाल्के अवार्ड रजनीकांत को मिला है।
5 सदस्यों की ज्यूरी @ashabhosle @SubhashGhai1 @Mohanlal @Shankar_Live #BiswajeetChatterjee ने एकमत से इसकी सिफारिश की है।

— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) April 1, 2021

Javadekar shared a tweet congratulating the superstar. The caption on the post read, “Happy to announce #Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2020 to one of the greatest actors in the history of Indian cinema Rajnikant ji. His contribution as actor, producer and screenwriter has been iconic. I thank Jury @ashabhosle @SubhashGhai1 @Mohanlal @Shankar_Live #BiswajeetChatterjee”

Happy to announce #Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2019 to one of the greatest actors in history of Indian cinema Rajnikant ji

His contribution as actor, producer and screenwriter has been iconic

I thank Jury @ashabhosle @SubhashGhai1 @Mohanlal@Shankar_Live #BiswajeetChatterjee pic.twitter.com/b17qv6D6BP

— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) April 1, 2021

PM Narendra Modi also took to Twitter to congratulate the superstar on receiving the honour. Addressing him as Thalaiva, he tweeted, “Popular across generations, a body of work few can boast of, diverse roles and an endearing personality…that’s Shri @rajinikanth Ji for you. It is a matter of immense joy that Thalaiva has been conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Congratulations to him.”

Popular across generations, a body of work few can boast of, diverse roles and an endearing personality...that’s Shri @rajinikanth Ji for you.

It is a matter of immense joy that Thalaiva has been conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Congratulations to him.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 1, 2021

Rajnikant never got national award for his performance in any movie, but he get Padma bhusan, and Padma vibhushan for his contribution to Indian cinema.