Legendary Rabindra Sangeet exponent Rezwana Choudhury Bannya was awarded India's fourth highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri, by India’s President Draupadi Murmu.

Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, the legendary Bangladeshi Rabindra Sangeet artiste, embarked on her musical journey with a unique blend of academic pursuit and passion for music. Born into a family with a deep appreciation for the arts, Bannya initially enrolled in Economics at Dhaka University, a practical choice influenced by her family. However, her passion for music fueled her desire to pursue her studies on a different path at Shantiniketan, steering her toward a lifelong dedication to classical music and cultural preservation.

Bengali folk artiste Ratan Kahar – renowned as the creator of the song "Genda Phool", which gained popularity after Indian musician Badshah's rendition in 2020, is slated to receive the esteemed Padma Shri Award. In expressing his appreciation, Kahar underscored the Indian government's acknowledgment of his contributions to the field of folk music. At the age of 88, he sees this recognition as a source of pride and plans to attend the award ceremony.

The government of India has announced the Padma Awards for this year on January 2, ahead of 74th Republic Day. Actress Raveena Tandon is the lone actor to be conferred with Padma Shri this year. She is one among the 106 recipients of this the third-highest civilian award in India this year.

Celebrities from the Indian music industry are paying tributes to Krishnakumar Kunnath, popularly known as KK, after his demise yesterday.