Filmmaker S S Rajamouli celebrated the Telugu community's achievements in the Padma Awards on X (formerly Twitter), congratulating Nandamuri Balakrishna, Shekhar Kapur, and Ajith on receiving the Padma Bhushan.
Rajamouli hailed Balakrishna's cinematic journey, praised Kapur for his lasting contributions to Indian cinema, and commended Ajith for his inspiring impact on and off-screen.
However, some users criticized Rajamouli’s regional emphasis, suggesting it perpetuated unnecessary division.
Comments like "All are Indians, why focus on Telugu?" sparked debate, with some questioning the need for regional segregation in such honors.
This year’s Padma Awards include seven Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri recipients, honoring late musicians Sharda Sinha and Pankaj Udhas, Bharatnatyam dancer Shobana, actor Anant Nag, and singer Arijit Singh.
The list comprises 23 women, 10 recipients from the Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI category, and 13 posthumous honorees.
