• Posthumously awarded “Bharat Ratna” by the President of India.
  • 1983 the University of Madras conferred on him, Honoris Causa, the degree of Doctor of Laws
  • A doctorate from the Arizona University, US.
  • 1978 the film ‘Maduraiyai Meetta Sundarapandian’ won the Tamilnadu Govt’s best film award.
  • 1972 National Award for the Best Actor for the film “Rickshakaran”
  • 1969 ‘Adimai penn’ – Tamilnadu Govt’s best film and Filmfare award
  • 1968 ‘Kudiyurindha kovil’ – Tamil nadu Govt’s best film
  • 1967 ‘Kavalkaran’- Tamilnadu govt’s best film
  • 1960 he refused to accept the ‘Padmashree’ award from the Govt of India.
  • 1956 Film fans association award for the film ‘Ali baba and forty thieves’
  • 1954 ‘Malai kallan’ received Govt of India award