By The Sampadak Express
The prestigious Padma Awards 2025 ceremony was held on Monday at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Droupadi Murmu conferred the honours upon distinguished personalities from various fields, including cinema and music.
Prominent figures such as Nandamuri Balakrishna, Ajith Kumar, Shekhar Kapur, Arijit Singh, and Ricky Kej were among the recipients. The late legendary ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas was posthumously honoured, with his wife accepting the award on his behalf.
Celebrating Excellence in the Arts
Telugu actor and politician Nandamuri Balakrishna received the Padma Bhushan, arriving in traditional Andhra attire to mark the occasion. Tamil cinema superstar Ajith Kumar also received the Padma Bhushan, attending the ceremony in a formal suit. Celebrated filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and renowned dancer-actress Shobhana were also honoured with the Padma Bhushan.
Music maestro Arijit Singh and Grammy-winning composer Ricky Kej were conferred the Padma Shri for their contributions to Indian music on a global scale.
The event, streamed live on YouTube, also celebrated achievements in sports, medicine, business, and public service.
Honorees React to the Recognition
Expressing his gratitude, Ajith Kumar had earlier released a statement following the announcement in January:“
I am deeply humbled and honoured to receive the esteemed Padma Award by the President of India. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu and the Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi for this prestigious honour. It is a privilege to be recognized at such a level and I am truly grateful for this generous acknowledgment of my contributions to our nation.”
Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur took to social media, writing:“
What an honour! Am humbled that the Government of India has considered me to be deserving of a #PadmaBhushan. Hopefully this award will make me strive harder to serve the industry that I am part of, and the beautiful nation that I am so fortunate to belong to. Thank you also to our film audiences of India, for I am because you are.”
The Padma Awards continue to celebrate individuals who have made significant contributions to India’s cultural, social, and public landscape.
