"Extremely Humbled And Honoured", Says Shankar Mahadevan On Padma Shri Award

Apart from being “joyous” and “over the moon”, singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan was “humbled” when he learned that he was being awarded the Padma Shri this year. “It’s the fourth highest civilian award and suddenly it dawns on you that you just are chosen from a rustic of a billion folks. So, I feel very humiliated and honored and all I can say right now is that I'll continue to work effortlessly and keep amusing additional folks with my music,” Shankar Mahadevan says.

CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi was the one to tell him that he was being given the award. Recalling the spoken language, Shankar says, “I was with my family at Boman Irani’s place, where we were celebrating the music I had composed for his production venture. Prasoon called as and said congratulations and that I thought he was congratulating me on the success of Manikarnika.”

“But then, he said ‘you have been awarded the Padma Shri’, and I remember shouting out to my wife,” Shankar Mahadevan adds.

Shankar is one among the largest composers within the industry, having composed music for films like Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Kal Ho Na Ho (2003), Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) and Manikarnika.

Shankar understands his responsibility as a star and wishes that the Padma Shri pushes him to carry on doing things for music. “My music school is now seven years old and we have started teaching music to the underprivileged kids, as they might not get an opportunity to learn music. I hope that this recognition by the government encourages me to keep doing things like this and I hope to establish the world’s best music school someday,” he signs off.

Recently, actor Manoj Bajpayee is feeling joyous as his work has been recognized by the “highest office”. He says getting a Padma Shri is an honor for “your journey and conviction”.

“It’s an enormous honour for any professional because it’s not an honour for only one specific film or performance. It’s an honour for your journey, for your conviction and belief that you simply had,” Manoj Bajpayee said Saturday, every day once being named for the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth highest civilian honour.

“Also, for the government, it’s a way of recognizing the contribution that one has created to cinema. So yes, I’m feeling terribly happy regarding it. My family, friends, and fans have been sending messages to me. I’m feeling joyous that my work has been recognized by the highest office,” he added.

Since his debut in movie industry within the mid-1990s, the National Award-winner has acted in the thought still as indie films. Last year, the Bandit Queen actor featured in seven films – Aiyaary, Baaghi 2, Missing, Satyameva Jayate, Gali Guleiyan, Love Sonia and Bhonsle.

Also Read: “An Honour for My Long Journey, Conviction, And Belief”, says Manoj Bajpayee After Winning Padma Shri