Padma Awards: The Secret Call Before the Announcement?

Padma Awards are among the highest civilian honours in India and every year the selection of awardees sparks debate. While some are considered deserving, others draw criticism. There have also been instances where prominent personalities felt Padma Shri was below their stature.

Senior Telugu actor and producer Murali Mohan, who received the Padma Shri this year, has now revealed an interesting process followed by the Union Government before announcing the awards. Speaking in a interview, he said the Union Home Ministry contacted him in advance and asked if he was willing to accept the honour.

Murali Mohan said he had always hoped to receive a Padma Award but knew there was no guarantee. He added that while many people believed he deserved the recognition much earlier, it was difficult for those in Delhi to know every deserving personality from the Telugu states.

He further revealed that officials first verified his personal details before asking if he would accept the Padma Shri. They reportedly explained that some personalities decline the award because they believe they deserve a higher honour. To avoid such situations, the government now seeks consent before making the announcement.

Murali Mohan also said he was instructed not to reveal the information to anyone, including his family, until the official announcement. He even wondered if it could be a fake call and waited until the awards were declared. Only after receiving congratulatory calls and seeing the official announcement on television did he believe the news was real.