Ex-Suzuki Motor chief Osamu Suzuki, singer Pankaj Udhas, Sushil Modi among Padma awardees
Altogether, 139 distinguished persons were named for the country's civilian awards — Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri — on the eve of the 76th Republic Day on January 25.
While 71 of them were given the awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan's majestic Durbar Hall on Monday (April 28, 2025) in the presence of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, among others, the remaining will be conferred with the decorations at a separate function to be held soon.
Veteran actor Shekhar Kapur, Chairman of Asian Institute of Gastroenterology and AIG Hospitals D Nageshwar Reddy, violinist Lakshminarayana Subramaniam and Telugu Superstar Nandamuri Balakrishna, also known as Balayya, were the other prominent persons who were conferred with the Padma awards by the president.
Among the awardees, four received Padma Vibhushan — Suzuki (Posthumous), Subramaniam, Reddy and Malayalam author and film director M T Vasudevan Nair (Posthumous).
A total of 10 distinguished personalities were conferred with Padma Bhushan. They include Udhas (Posthumous), Sushil Kumar Modi (Posthumous), Balakrishna, Kapur, former hockey player P R Sreejesh, Tamil actor S Ajith Kumar, chairperson of Zydus Lifesciences, Pankaj Patel, and Vinod Dham, an Indian-American engineer, who is widely known as the 'Father of the Pentium'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
42 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Anupam Kher shares pics with President Murmu, thanks her for inviting him to Rashtrapati Bhavan: ‘Proud, blessed'
President Droupadi Murmu on Friday hosted an At Home event at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of 79th Independence Day. The event was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers, chiefs of the three armed forces and foreign envoys. Actor Anupam Kher expressed gratitude for the invitation and said that he felt "honoured and blessed". Anupam Kher shared photos with President Murmu. Taking to his Instagram, Anupam shared a series of pictures from the grand event and wrote in the caption, 'Thank you Hon. Rashtrapati #DraupadiMurmu ji for inviting me to #RashtrapatiBhavan for the #AtHome ceremony. I felt Honoured and Blessed! It was a very elegant and grand ceremony! And I also had the privilege of meeting so many other dignitaries from other walks of life and fields. Bahot bahot dhanyawad aur Hind..' Earlier, he had shared a video of the beautiful invite for the ceremony. "On the occasion of the #IndependenceDay it is my honour to be invited by The President Of India Smt. #DraupadiMurmu ji to At-Home reception at #RashtrapatiBhavan! Feel proud, blessed and humbled! Jai Hind," he wrote in the caption. On the occasion of the 79th Independence Day, Anupam spoke to ANI, and said, "Vishwabhar mein reh rahe sabhi bharat vasiyon ko meri taraf se swatantrata diwas ki bahut shubhlamnaye (Happy Independence Day to all Indians living across the world)..meri prabhu se prathna rehti ki hamara desh din dugni raat chugni tarakki kare aur hum kar rahe saalo mein bharat jis mukam par pahucha hai uspe sabhi bartiyon ka seena garv se chauda hota hai (I pray to God that our country grow rapidly and we are growing…In these years, the level at which India has reached today, every Indian is proud of it)." Anupam has been basking in the success of his latest release, Tanvi The Great, which also marked the actor's return to direction after two decades. Besides Anupam, the film also features Shubhangi Dutt, Boman Irani, Karan Tacker, Jackie Shroff, Arvind Swami, Nasser, and British actor Iain Glen. Made under the banner of Anupam Kher Studios in collaboration with NFDC, Tanvi The Great received accolades both domestically and internationally. It also enjoyed a successful festival run at Cannes and across major cities like New York, Houston, and London. Tanvi The Great focuses on the story of a young girl, on the autism spectrum, who lives with her mother and grandfather. Inspired by her late father, an Indian Army officer, the girl is determined to join the forces.
Hans India
4 hours ago
- Hans India
Sobhamrutham – A garland of grace for a beloved guru
Recently, the hallowed stage of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Auditorium blossomed into a shrine of rhythm and devotion. Here unfolded Sobhamrutham, a lovingly conceived and meticulously presented dance offering by Smt. Amrita Singh — a work that was, in every sense, a heartfelt tribute to her revered guru, the late Padmashri Dr Sobha Naidu. Amrita Singh, a distinguished Kuchipudi exponent, choreographer, and teacher, has been shaped by years under the luminous guidance of her legendary mentor. From Dr Sobha Naidu, she imbibed not merely the intricate grammar and lyrical grace of the form, but also the intangible essence of guru-shishya parampara — discipline, humility, and a deep spiritual connection to the art. Her studies have been further enriched by a profound engagement with the Natyashastra Karanas, lending her performances an arresting blend of aesthetic refinement and spiritual depth. In 2023, she first envisioned Sobhamrutham — a solo presentation of five timeless Kuchipudi pieces, all choreographed by her guru — as an artistic garland woven with memories, reverence, and gratitude. The success of that evening planted the seed for Sobhamrutham 2.0, an evolved tribute that saw her disciples breathe new life into her guru's choreographies. Through this living production, Amrita ensures that Dr Sobha Naidu's artistry continues to flow like an unbroken river, nourishing future generations. Her institution, Kuchipudi Kalamrita, founded in 2019 at Begumpet, Hyderabad, stands as a beacon for the preservation and propagation of traditional Kuchipudi values. It carries forward her guru's vision, nurturing students in both the rigour and joy of the art. The evening's repertoire unfurled like a vibrant tapestry. Kuchipudi Kalamrita's coordinated renditions of Ganesa Pancharatnam, Swagatam Krishna, and Kuntalavarali Tillana drew warm appreciation, each a confluence of precision and charm — though the customary stage 'smoking' could perhaps be set aside. Guru Sudheer Rao, who rarely graces the stage, was magnetic in his portrayal of Ravana during Bho Shambho in Revathi ragam. His abhinaya, rich in dramatic nuance, lent itself naturally to storytelling — a moment of sheer theatre when, as Ravana, he opened his stomach to play the veena with his intestines, to appease Lord Shiva. The group Natyasathpadam, with its four spirited young men, delivered Ananda Tandavam and Tillana with the unmistakable vigour and masculine dynamism of Kuchipudi. Gangadhar and Deekshitulu shone with remarkable stage presence, while Pasumarthy Kumara Datta and Chakravarthy lent additional lustre to the performance. Adding yet another layer of radiance, senior guru Kalaimamani Sailaja from Chennai and her students offered scintillating pieces, infusing the programme with colour and variety. When Amrita herself took the stage for Kanjadalayatakshi Kamakshi by Muthuswami Deekshitar in Kamala Manohari raagam, the auditorium seemed to hold its breath. Draped in elegance, her anga shuddhi, perfection of movement, and graceful aaharya spoke of rare dedication. Each gesture was steeped in both artistry and devotion, touching the hearts of all present. In that moment, the audience felt not just the mastery of a performer, but the love of a disciple carrying her guru's flame forward. Though Dr Sobha Naidu no longer walks this earth, one could almost sense her invisible blessing — a gentle whisper from the heavens, urging her beloved student to keep the Kuchipudi flag flying high, as the fragrance of Sobhamrutham lingers in every soul who witnessed it.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
Inside Shankar Mahadevan's six-floor luxury home in Mumbai with home theater, swimming pool, and recording studio: ‘This is Antilia,' says Farah Khan
Celebrated music composer-singer Shankar Mahadevan lives in a sprawling six-floor residence in Navi Mumbai with his wife Sangeetha and their sons, Siddharth and Shivam. Shankar moved into this grand home about five years ago, and recently, choreographer-filmmaker Farah Khan paid him a visit — instantly comparing it to Mukesh Ambani's Antilia. The tour began with a surprise. As soon as Farah Khan stepped inside, she was greeted by a gleaming garage housing Shankar Mahadevan's prized car collection, including a vintage Chevrolet. Unable to resist, she delivered her signature line: 'Hum kitne gareeb hai.' From the lobby, they accessed a secret lift behind a concealed door. 'Look at this, James Bond ka lift!' Farah exclaimed to her cook Dilip. Turning to the lift operator, she asked how many floors the building had. 'Six,' he replied. 'All Shankar's?' she asked. 'Yes,' came the answer. Farah sighed dramatically: 'I should have been a music director.' When they finally reached the main floor, Farah was in awe. 'Yeh kya ghar hai yaar, Shankar? No wonder you live in Navi Mumbai,' she quipped, adding, 'I really should have learnt music.' Ever humble, Shankar said, 'Hum gareeb aadmi hai.' Farah shot back, 'This looks like a Sanjay Leela Bhansali set!' Shankar Mahadevan revealed he had recently built an in-house recording studio, eliminating his daily commute. Farah Khan joked, 'You've literally made your own Antilia here,' to which Shankar replied, 'Yours is no less.' In the kitchen, Shankar prepared his signature potli prawns for Farah, assisted by his culinary team — head cook Lakshmi, along with Seema and Jyoti. Pointing to his industrial-grade oven, Shankar beamed, 'You'll find this in every five-star hotel. My son Siddharth gifted it to me for my 50th birthday.' Farah's eyes lit up when she spotted Shankar's Grammy. 'Only the Oscar left now!' she teased. He also proudly displayed his Padma Shri, adding that he is the only person to have won National Awards both as a singer and composer. Next stop: the swimming area, complete with a large jacuzzi, an LED TV, a dining space, and seating for 20. 'We watch cricket matches here with friends, sitting in the pool,' Siddharth Mahadevan revealed. Farah Khan, once again, turned to Dilip with mock despair: 'Dilip, hum kitne gareeb hai.' During the tour, Shankar shared his upcoming venture — Malgudi, a chain of authentic South Indian restaurants under the Eutopia group. 'It's not just one restaurant — we'll have outlets in Borivali, Chembur, and Lower Parel. Every dish is curated by me, including a 100-year-old recipe for Mulbagal dosa that you've probably never tasted,' he said with pride. The final stop was Shankar Mahadevan's plush home theatre. 'This is where we watch Netflix and other shows,' he told a stunned Farah Khan. His wife Sangeetha added with a laugh, 'We can't afford a house like this in Lokhandwala.' Shankar chimed in, 'We're not part of the film fraternity.' Farah deadpanned, 'Yeah, sure. You're too poor. This is bigger than most studios in Bombay — okay, maybe not Yash Raj, but still huge!' The visit wrapped up with Shankar Mahadevan, Farah Khan, and Dilip recording a special song together.
