1983
S P Balasubramanian
1984
Sowcar Janaki
1985
Sivaji Ganesan
1986
Thikkurshi Sukumaran Nair
1987
Bhanumathi
1988
A Nageswara Rao
1989
Ilayaraja
1990
Padmini
1991
M T Vasudevan Nair
1992
L V Prasad
1993
Gemini Ganesan
1994
B Saroja Devi
K Vishwanath
K Balachander
Madhu
Hrishkesh Mukerjee
Sowmitha Chaterjee
1995
C K Nagesh
Manorama
1996
T Sarada Mp
Krishna
1997
Janaki S
Nedumudi Venu
1998
Lakshmi
Allu Ramalingiah
Ramoji Rao (Special Award)
1999
Pandari Bai
Sundaram
2000
D Ramanaidu
Sheela
2001
M S Viswanathan
Dr. Dasai Narayana Rao
2002
Vishnuvardhan
K Raghavendra Rao
2003
K J Yesudas
Vijayashanthi
2004
Ramoji Rao
K R Vijaya
2005
Sukumari
Thilakan
2006
P Susheela
Krishnam Raju
2007
Sivakumar
Jaraprada
2008
Veturi Sundararama Murthy
2009
Ambareesh
K P A C Lalitha
2010
Chiranjeevi
Jayasudha
2011
Seema
S P Muthuraman
2012
Bapu
Vani Jairam