1. Civilian honours 2001 – Padma Shri. [1]
National Film Award for Best Art Direction 1988 –
Nayagan 1997
– Indian 2008 – Sivaji
1998 Choodalani Vundi Telugu Filmfare Award for Best Art Director – South
1989 Nayagan Tamil National Film Award for Best Art Direction
Thota Tharani has been involved in the art of set design since he was just twelve when he helped his
father. His work was very much appreciated in films such as Nayagan, Indian and Sivaji, all the three
films fetched him a National Film Award. His recent work include Dasavathaaram, Kanthaswamy and
Leader. He has worked in more than 100 feature films as a production designer, including three foreign
productions: Pondichéry, Dernier Comptoir Des Indes (French), Hanuman (French) and Branchie (Italian).
His expertise in magnificent and larger than life sets has been well appreciated and awarded. His
realistic sets for Nayagan are awe inspiring and the grandeur of the sets he created for Thiruda Thiruda
and Mudhalvan added to the flavour of the films.