I'm happy, but missing my wife: Kasaravalli

New Delhi, Jan 25 (IANS) Kannada filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli is ecstatic after being named for the Padma Shri Tuesday, but misses his wife Vaishali -- who passed away three months ago -- on the special occasion.

"I am very happy to receive the award. I have dedicated my service to the Kannada film industry and many people expected it. My wife Vaishali was quite confident that I would win a Padma award someday but unfortunately she is no more there to share the joy with me. She passed away three months ago. I really miss her today," Girish told IANS.

Kasaravalli, 60, is one of the pioneers of the parallel cinema in Kannada cinema and has won four National awards for "Ghatashraddha" (1977), "Tabarana Kathe" (1986), "Thaayi Saheba" (1997) and "Dweepa" (2001).

Other winners of Padma Shri are Tabu, Irrfan Khan, Kajol, veteran singer Usha Uthup, Malayalam film director Shaji Neelakantan Karun and South Indian actor Jayaram Subramaniam.