Sukumari questions Padma Shri award

Thiruvanathapuran, Feb 4 (IANS) Veteran south Indian actress S. Sukumari, who received the Padma Shri award in 2003, is questioning the utility of the honour conferred on her.

"I don't understand why I was given the award and of what use it is. By showing this award I can't get even a seat in a train. But someone may give me a seat if I say I am actress Sukumari," she told media.

Sukumari has acted in about 2,000 films in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu. She has the distinction of having acted with leading stars as well as their sons - Sivaji Ganesan and Pravhu, Prem Nazir and Shah Nawaz, A. Nageshwara Rao and Nagarjuna as well as Muthuraman and Karthik.

Her comments on the award came after Malayalam writer and political commentator Sukumar Azhikode declined the honour.