Sonu Nigam Criticises Padma Awards 2025 For Overlooking Kishore Kumar And Other Music Legends

Sonu Nigam, a renowned singer and Padma Shri awardee, has voiced his dissatisfaction over the absence of recognition for Kishore Kumar with a Padma Shri. In an Instagram video shared on Sunday, Nigam highlighted that even posthumous awards are given to honour contributions, yet Kumar, an inspiration to many singers globally, remains unrecognised. He also advocated for fellow singers Alka Yagnik, Shreya Ghoshal, and Sunidhi Chauhan to receive similar honours.

"There are two singers who have inspired singers all over the world. We have limited one of them with the Padma Shri award, that's Mohammed Rafi. The other one didn't even get a Padma Shri, Kishore Kumar. Awards are being given posthumously," Nigam said in the post, captioned as "India and its pending Padma Awardees". While Rafi received the Padma Shri in 1967, 13 years before his death, Kumar -- who died in 1987 -- is yet to be felicitated with the honour. Part of the Padma Awards 2025 are late singers Sharda Sinha and Pankaj Udhas who have been posthumously honoured with Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan, respectively.

Nigam pointed out that several artists from various fields excel in their crafts but remain unacknowledged by the government. He specifically mentioned Yagnik's long and successful career without any recognition. Similarly, he praised Ghoshal's consistent excellence and Chauhan's influence on a new generation through her distinct voice. Despite their significant contributions to music, they have not yet received any prestigious awards.

Singers Arijit Singh and Jaspinder Narula were named as recipients of the Padma Shri awards recently. Nigam himself was honoured with this award in 2022. He believes that many deserving individuals across different domains haven't been recognised adequately for their achievements.

Towards the end of his video message, Nigam encouraged his followers to suggest names of deserving personalities from various sectors like music, acting, science or literature who should be considered for the Padma Awards. Known for hits such as "Suraj Hua Maddham" and "Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin", Nigam gained fame in 1995 with "Accha Sila Diya" from "Bewafa Sanam".

The singer's call for recognising talent reflects a broader sentiment about acknowledging artistic contributions appropriately. His remarks underline the importance of celebrating those who have significantly impacted their respective fields but remain overlooked by official accolades.