The Padma Awards 2025 ceremony was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Delhi, on Monday. President Droupadi Murmu presented the honours to eminent personalities from the fields of entertainment, music, theatre, and other areas. Notable faces like Ajith Kumar, Arijit Singh, Shekhar Kapur, and Ricky Kej were among those honoured. The event also saw a special moment when Pankaj Udhas was honoured posthumously, with his wife receiving the award on his behalf. The awards ceremony was streamed live on YouTube.
The Padma Awards celebrated several known figures from the entertainment world this year. Nandamuri Balakrishna received the Padma Bhushan and attended the ceremony in traditional Andhra Pradesh attire. Ajith Kumar, who also received the Padma Bhushan, chose a formal suit for the occasion. Celebrated filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and classical dancer Shobhana were also awarded the Padma Bhushan. In a moving tribute, singer Pankaj Udhas was posthumously honoured with the Padma Bhushan.
Receiving the Padma Shri were names like singer Arijit Singh, music composer Ricky Kej, actor Ashok Laxman Saraf, theatre director Barry John, singer Jaspinder Narula, and classical vocalist Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande. Folk musicians Bheru Singh Chouhan, Joynacharan Bathari, and devotional singer Harjinder Singh Srinagar Wale also received the Padma Shri. Additionally, classical singer K Omanakutty Amma, singer Mahabir Nayak, actor Mamata Shankar, and actor Anant Nag were among the awardees, with Anant Nag receiving a Padma Bhushan.
After the awards were announced in January, actor Ajith Kumar shared his gratitude through an official statement. He said he was deeply humbled and honoured to receive the Padma Award and thanked President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ajith called it a privilege to be recognised at such a high level and expressed heartfelt gratitude for the acknowledgment of his contributions.
Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, too, expressed his feelings on X (formerly known as Twitter). He wrote that he was humbled to be considered worthy of the Padma Bhushan and that the award inspired him to strive harder for the industry he serves and the nation he belongs to. He also thanked Indian film audiences, acknowledging that he owes his success to them.
The Padma Awards are one of IndiaĄŻs highest civilian honours. They recognise outstanding contributions across various disciplines. These include fields like public affairs, science and engineering, medicine, social work, literature, education, sports, and civil services. The 2025 awards ceremony saw a strong presence from the entertainment and music industries, showcasing a wide range of talent across generations and genres.
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