President Droupadi Murmu bestowed the Padma Shri award on Oscar-winning music composer M.M. Keeravani and Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon at the second Civil Investiture Ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were in attendance during the presentation ceremony.
Keeravani received Academy Awards for his contributions to the song ‘Naatu Naatu’ from S.S. Rajamouli’s period drama RRR, and Raveena for her contribution in the field of art.
SS Rajamouli took to Twitter today to share a picture with Oscar-winning composer MM Keeravani, hours after the latter was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honor. Rajamouli captioned the picture, “So proud of my Peddanna….”
RRR became the first Indian production to win an Oscar in the Original Song category last month for ‘Naatu Naatu,’ which was composed by Keeravani. Naatu Naatu was performed live at the Academy Awards and received a standing ovation.
In his acceptance speech after winning the Oscar for ‘Naatu Naatu,’ MM Keeravani stated, “There was only one wish on my mind…RRR has to win…the pride of every Indian…and it must put me on top of the world.”
“It was definitely an emotional moment for me because it was something that my father had always dreamed of and thought would be a proud moment (for him) whenever I received the Padma Shri honour,” says Raveena.
The actor received the award after working in the industry for over three decades and making a name for herself with films such as Dilwale, Mohra, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, Ziddi, Shool, and K.G.F: Chapter 2. She recently began a new chapter in her career by foraying into the OTT space with the series ‘Aryanak.’
Raveena captioned the picture of her receiving the award, “A Day of love and celebrations. Padma Shri 2023.”
