MUMBAI: Playback singers Udit Narayan and Kumar Sanu Bhattacharjee, music maestro Pandit Hridyanath Mangeshkar, ghazal singer Penaz Masani and radio presenter-programmer Ameen Sayani are among those honoured with the India's fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri on 26 January 2009.
Narayan, whose nomination for the Padma Shri was shrouded in controversy over his domicile status said, "I can't express my feelings, it is like a dream come true for me. After receiving three national awards for 'Lagaan', 'Zindagi Khoobsurat Hai' and 'Swades', this is like the highest honour for me. I am feeling really happy. I am so glad that the government appreciates honesty and hard work by its countrymen with such profound respect as the Padma Shri."
A few days ago, controversy erupted on the issue of Udit Narayan's Indian citizenship with many alleging him to be a Nepal citizen. "They are out to malign me and stop me from being given the recognition that the government thinks I deserve by saying I am not an Indian. They say I was born in Nepal, but that's completely false. I was born in a village called Baisi on the Supaul district of Bihar in 1955 at my maternal grandparents' home," Narayan told the media.
Veteran ghazal singer Penaz Masani, who has enchanted many music afficionados over the years with her mellifluous voice said, "I am deeply humbled. So much of responsibility comes over the shoulders when someone is awarded with such honour as a Padma Shri. I think of all the years and my master Madhurani ji from whom I started learning ghazal singing in 1981. It seems just like yesterday that I started my career with ghazals."
Pandit Hridyanath Mangeshkar, son of Dinanath Mangeshkar and younger brother of Indian music icons, Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar was also conferred the award yesterday. Mangeshkar, recognised as one of the leading lights of the Indian music industry, is the first Indian composer to compose and release two entire albums featuring the poems and songs of the great poet-saint Sant Meerabai, titled Chala Vahi Des and Meera Bhajans. He has also produced an album featuring the ghazals of Mirza Ghalib, titled Ghalib, rendered by Lata Mangeshkar.
Indian broadcasting legend Ameen Sayani, who has mesmerised old and young alike with his golden voice since the Akashvani days of All India Radio, said, "I am very happy. It's a very prestigious award. I actually pray that this will perhaps help me further promote a national project that I was trying to do to help and improve communication in all aspects of life in our country."
While four luminaries from the music and radio fraternity were chosen for this year's Padma Shris, no one has made it to the higher Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan honours this year.