Singer Sonu Nigam has voiced his disappointment over Kishore Kumar not being honored with a Padma Shri. Kishore Kumar, a legend who inspired singers globally, remains unrecognized with the award, even though it has frequently been given posthumously, Nigam highlighted in an Instagram video on Sunday.
Nigam, himself a Padma Shri recipient in 2022, pointed out that another legendary singer, Mohammed Rafi, received the honor in 1967. However, Kishore Kumar, who passed away in 1987, has yet to receive the recognition. The awards for 2025, announced a day prior, included late singers Sharda Sinha and Pankaj Udhas receiving Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan, respectively. Singers Arijit Singh and Jaspinder Narula were named as Padma Shri honorees.
Nigam also brought attention to the contemporary music industry. He praised colleagues like Alka Yagnik, Shreya Ghoshal, and Sunidhi Chauhan as deserving candidates for Padma Awards. Their decades-long contributions to music and unique talent, he argued, warrant recognition from the government.
“Alka has had an extraordinary career. Shreya, with her brilliance, deserves it too. And Sunidhi’s impact on an entire generation with her distinctive voice is undeniable,” Nigam said during his post, encouraging a broader conversation about overdue honors.
He also invited fans to share names of other personalities across fields, including music, acting, science, and literature, who deserve Padma Awards. Using the Instagram caption “India and its pending Padma Awardees,” Nigam struck a chord with his followers.
Known for hits like “Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin” and “Suraj Hua Maddham,” Nigam has been a prominent voice in Indian music since the 1990s. His call for fairness in recognizing contributors is stirring conversations about the award selection process.