On April 28, actor and Andhra Pradesh MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna was honoured with the Padma Bhushan. At the ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi, President Droupadi Murmu gave the award to him for his contribution to the arts field. However, netizens are not happy. Questioning his contribution to Indian cinema, social media isn’t being kind to the veteran actor.
Netizens react to Nandamuri Balakrishna's Padma Bhushan honour
ANI shared a video from the Padma ceremony on X, formerly Twitter. Netizens flooded the comments section with criticism. One wrote, “What did he achieve?” Another commented, “Why did he get the award?” A netizen said, “Same guy who played a role in Urvashi Rautela starrer Daaku Maharaj?” One remarked, “These awards lose their value when given to people without character. Entertainment to some is not art.”
Nandamuri Balakrishna on Padma Bhushan
In a statement to ANI at the Padma awards, Nandamuri Balakrishna, popularly known as Balayya, said, "I am overjoyed... I am thankful to my fans. I also thank the Government of India. In 50 years of my career, my work as an MLA, my hospital is one of the five big hospitals in the country, and this is a matter of great joy. I thank everyone. People told me that I should have been awarded the Padma award much earlier, but I told them that the timing is right because I gave four hit films, it has been 15 years since I became the Chairman of Cancer Hospital, and I have completed 50 years as an actor.”
Balakrishna's recent movie
Balakrishna’s latest film, Daaku Maharaaj, drew criticism for the song, Dabidi Dibidi with Urvashi Rautela. He received the Padma Bhushan after the film’s release.