In Pics | PT Usha to Ilayaraja, South stalwarts nominated to Rajya Sabha

From PT Usha, Ilayaraja to Veerendra Heggade, the government on July 6 announced celebrated personalities from South to the Rajya Sabha, in what is being seen as the ruling BJP's big outreach to recognise prominent figures from south India. All these nominated members have had illustrious careers in their respective fields and received national and global recognition for their contributions.

Ilaiyaraaja: Born in a village in Madurai, Ilaiyaraaja is regarded as one of India's greatest music composers. In a career spanning more than five decades, Ilaiyaraaja has composed over 7,000 songs for more than 1,000 films and performed in more than 20,000 concerts across the globe. Credit: Twitter/ilaiyaraaja

PT Usha: A celebrated athlete born in a small village in Kozhikode district in Kerala, is one of India's most iconic sportspersons. Popularly known as the 'Payyoli Express, she has been a role model and inspiration for lakhs of young girls across the country who have dreamt of taking up a career in sports, especially track and field events. Credit: DH Photo

Vijayendra Prasad: An acclaimed screenwriter and film director, Vijayendra is known for his powerful movie scripts. His notable works include some of the highest-grossing Indian movies such as 'RRR', the 'Baahubali' series, and 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan'. Some of the movies he wrote have transcended sharp regional boundaries and become blockbusters across the country. Credit: PTI Photo

Veerendra Heggade: The 'Dharmadhikari' of the Dharmasthala Temple in Karnataka, Veerendra has been a devoted philanthropist for more than five decades. He has led various transformative initiatives for rural development and the promotion of self-employment. He established the Rural Development and Self-employment Training Institute (RDSETI) to spread awareness about self-employment opportunities and train rural youth. Credit: PTI Photo