New Delhi [India], April 22 (ANI): President Droupadi Murmu on Monday conferred Padma Bhushan on veteran singer Usha Uthup in the field of Arts at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.
Bhajan singer Kaluram Bamaniya, Bangladeshi singer Rezwana Choudhury Bannya and Gopinath Swain were among the recipient of Padma Shri award.
Bharatnatyam dancer Dr Padma Subrahmanyam was also honoured with the Padma Vibhushan.
#WATCH | Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu confers Padma Bhushan upon singer Usha Uthup in the field of Arts. pic.twitter.com/ttxFrCO6A8
— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2024
In a career spanning over five decades, Usha Uthup has enthralled audiences with several hit songs such as ‘Ramba Ho Ho’, ‘Hari Om Hari’, ‘Koi Yahan Aha’, ‘One Two Cha Cha Cha’ and ‘Darling’ among others. Her unique and powerful voice has helped her create a niche for herself in the music industry.
Usha has also acted in a few films.
Earlier, after the announcement, she expressed her happiness and said that it was a “fantastic feeling”
Speaking to ANI, the ‘Hari Om Hari’ hitmaker said, “It was a fantastic feeling, I still can’t believe it is true. I’m grateful to God, I’m grateful to the govt and our country. I have been singing for the last 54 years and it feels so good when we get recognised…I want to thank my family, friends, musicians, technicians and the media…”
President Murmu also honoured Bhajan singer Kaluram Bamaniya with the Padma Shri award in the field of Arts.
He is a soulful bhajan singer known for rendering verses of Kabir, Mirabai, and Gorakhnath.
#WATCH | Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu confers Padma Shri upon Bhajan-singer Shri Kaluram Bamaniya in the field of Arts. pic.twitter.com/vIx06fD3rb
— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2024
President Murmu also conferred Padma Shri upon Bangladeshi singer Rezwana Choudhury Bannya in the field of Arts.
She is an exponent of Rabindra sangeet. Rezwana was born in Rangpur, Bangladesh to her parents Mazharuddin Khan and Ismat Ara Khan. She has won many awards including Bangladesh’s highest civilian award, the Independence Day Award in 2016.
#WATCH | Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu confers Padma Shri upon Bangladesh singer Ms. Rezwana Choudhury Bannya in the field of Arts. pic.twitter.com/tF5rcKefyu
— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2024
Acclaimed Bharatnatyam dancer, research scholar, music composer, and Indologist Dr Padma Subrahmanyam, particularly celebrated for her works on Natyashastras received Padma Vibhushan in the field of Art, as per PIB India.
Acclaimed Bharatnatyam dancer, research scholar, music composer, and Indologist Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, particularly celebrated for her works on Natyashastras receives #PadmaVibhushan in the field of Art from President Droupadi Murmu.#PeoplesPadma #PadmaAwards2024 pic.twitter.com/igyRSuMlUA
— PIB India (@PIB_India) April 22, 2024
President Droupadi Murmu presented the prestigious Padma Shri to Bhajan-singer Gopinath Swain in the field of Arts.
Centenarian Krishna Leela performer Gopinath Swain is a singer-cum-director of the folk dance. He has been honoured with many awards. He a resident of Gobindapur village under Shergarh block of Ganjam district in Odisha.
#WATCH | Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu confers Padma Shri upon Bhajan-singer Gopinath Swain in the field of Arts. pic.twitter.com/btp2lrBOhP
— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2024
President Droupadi Murmu conferred Padma Shri upon folk dancer Narayanan E.P. in the field of Arts. Hailing from Kerala, he has dedicated 6 decades to promoting the traditional art form of Theyyam.
#WATCH | Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu confers Padma Shri upon folk dancer Narayanan E.P. in the field of Arts. pic.twitter.com/K5mDzT8l3Z
— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2024
The Padma Awards were announced on the eve of 75th Republic Day. The awards recognise exceptional contributions in various fields. Actor, politician Mithun Chakraborty and Pyarelal Sharma of music duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal, have also been awarded Padma Bhushan.
There are 132 names on the list of Padma Awardees this year, including two duo cases (in a duo case, the award is counted as one), as per the list below. The list comprises five Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan, and 110 Padma Shri Awards. 30 of the awardees are women, and the list also includes 8 persons from the categories of foreign non-resident Indian (NRI), person of Indian origin (PIO), overseas citizenship of India (OCI), and nine posthumous awardees.
The Padma Awards, which were instituted in 1954, are one of the highest civilian honours of India and are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. The awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order), and Padma Shri (distinguished service). The award seeks to recognise achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. The Padma Awards Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes the Home Secretary, Secretary to the President, and four to six eminent persons as members. The recommendations of the committee are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President of India for approval. (ANI)
