Telangana's Dr Nageshwar Reddy conferred with Padma Vibhushan, Actor Balakrishna bags Padma Bhushan

Amaravati/ Hyderabad: Telugu actor Nandamuri Balakrishna from Andhra Pradesh, Dr Nageshwar Reddy from Telangana are among the Padma awardees list announced by the Union government.

This year, the government has awarded 7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri awards. The President confers these awards at a ceremonial function held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, usually in March or April every year.

Two from Telangana and five from Andhra Pradesh are in the list of Padma Awards 2025.

The Padma Awards — one of the highest civilian honours of the country — are conferred in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The awards cover people from myriad disciplines and various fields of activity. They are announced annually during Republic Day celebrations.

From Telangana:

1. Renowned gastroenterologist and Chairman of AIG Hospitals D Nageshwar Reddy has been conferred with Padma Vibhushan. He is among the seven individuals being conferred the second-highest civilian award in the country. Dr. Reddy’s work has earned him numerous accolades, including the B.C. Roy Award in 1995, the Padma Shri in 2002, and the Padma Bhushan in 2016.

2. Padma Shri- Manda Krishna Madiga (Public Affairs). A dedicated activist, Madiga is recognized for his relentless efforts in advocating for the rights and reservations of the Madiga community.

From Andhra Pradesh:

1. Hindupur MLA, and Actor Nandamuri Balakrishna has been conferred with Padma Bhushan for his contribution in the field of Art. Balakrishna began his acting career as a child artist at the age of 14 with the film “Tatamma Kala” in 1974. Over the years, he has acted in more than 100 films, earning acclaim for his dynamic performances and dialogue delivery.

He also runs Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital and Research Institute in Hyderabad.

2. Padma Shri - K L Krishna ( Literature and Education). An eminent economist, Krishna is honored for his significant contributions to economic research and education.

3. Padma Shri - Madugula Nagaphani Sarma (Art). An esteemed scholar, Sharma is celebrated for his mastery in Avadhanam, a literary performance art, and his contributions to Telugu literature.

4. Padma Shri - Miriyala Apparao (Posthumous). A revered Burrakatha artist, Apparao is remembered for his role in popularizing this traditional storytelling art form.

5. Padma Shri - Vadiraj Raghawendracharya Panchamukhi (Art). A distinguished economist and Sanskrit scholar, Panchamukhi is recognized for his extensive research and contributions to both economics and Sanskrit literature.

Other Padma awardees:

Late musicians Sharda Sinha, Pankaj Udhas, Tamil superstar Ajith Kumar, South Indian actress Shobana Chandrakumar, veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and singer Arijit Singh were among 139 recipients of the coveted Padma Awards for the year 2025.

Folk singer Sinha and Legendary Malayalam writer M T Vasudevan Nair have been posthumously honoured with Padma Vibhushan.

Renowned Ghazal singer Udhas has been posthumously honoured with third highest honour Padma Bhushan.

In a post on social media, Balakrishna expressed his gratitude to Government of India for bestowing this prestigious recognition upon me. "I am deeply thankful to everyone who has conveyed their wishes and blessings on this occasion. I express my gratitude to my fellow actors, technicians, producers, distributors, exhibitors, family members, and the entire film fraternity who have been a part of this long and eventful journey," said Balakrishna.

In a post, Dr Nageshwar Reddy said, "I am deeply humbled and honored to receive the Padma Vibhushan, a recognition that truly belongs to all my patients, my entire team at AIG Hospitals, and the countless healthcare workers who inspire me every day. This is not just a personal milestone, but a celebration of the spirit of Indian medicine and the immense potential our great nation holds in healthcare innovation."

He dedicated this honor to every individual who places their trust in them during their most vulnerable moments.