New Delhi May 27, 2025 (ANI): Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej expressed deep gratitude upon receiving the Padma Shri, calling it a validation of his entire career rather than just a single project. Unlike his past accolades, he highlighted that this national honor feels particularly special as it comes from his own country. Kej emphasized that his music is heartfelt and not mainstream, and he praised the Padma Awards for recognizing impact and authenticity over popularity and viral success.On receiving the Padma Shri, Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej said, "I have won three Grammy Awards in the past and all the awards that I have won besides the Grammy have always been for a specific project. But to win the Padma Shri is like a validation for my entire career and whatever I have done so far. It feels really special to be awarded by my own country. There are no words to describe how special it feels... My music is not mainstream music. I make music from the heart, and only when I feel like making. It feels good that the Padma Awards have become the people's Padma; it's not just about the popularity and having millions of views on your videos. It's actually about making a difference at the grassroots and using your heart and soul to create music and using it as an art form..."
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00:00Thank you so much, first of all. I mean, I've won three Grammy Awards in the past, and all the awards that I've won, even besides the Grammy Awards, has always been for a specific project, or has been for a specific song, or an album, or something like that.
00:13But to win this award, which is almost like a validation for my entire career, and whatever I've done in music, and the social causes that I've highlighted through my music, so that feels really special. And to be awarded by my own country, and to be awarded by the highest authorities of my country, that is absolutely special, so there's no words to describe that.
00:33And, sir, like you said, you have been recognized with multiple international and accreditation awards. How does this feel to, you know, receive such a prestigious honor like this industry in your own home, in your own country?
00:52My music is not mainstream, you know, Bollywood music or film industry music. I make music from the heart. I make music that I feel like making.
00:59And so, you know, it feels good that, you know, that the Padma Awards has become the people's Padma, where, you know, it's not just about popularity, it's not just about, you know, having millions and millions of views on your videos, and things like that.
01:13But it's about, you know, actually creating a difference at the grassroots, and, you know, and using your heart and soul to create music, and using music as an art form.
01:21So it feels good to be counted among that, and to actually win this People's Padma Award.
01:26Also, sir, with such prestigious athletes, tell you, do you think, does it kind of create a sense of, you know, pressure to, you know, always live up to the expectations, or do you find it, like, more motivating and inspiring to, like, keep going on?
01:49So I guess with this, with this Padma Award, there are always two ways to look at it, you know.
01:54One way would be with vanity, that, you know, I won this award, I'm great, or whatever.
01:58And that is the wrong way to look at an award.
02:00I feel that the right way to look at an award is that you've been given this platform.
02:03You've been given this amazing, you know, this amazing award, and more and more people will get to know about you.
02:09More and more people will start taking you seriously.
02:12And how do I use this platform to do bigger and better work, to collaborate with the musicians that I've always wanted to collaborate with,
02:18to make the kind of music that I've always wanted to make, and, you know, and to reach my message of social impact and environmental consciousness through my music,
02:27further and wider to more and more people.
02:29So that is how, what I think about this award, that this award is a beautiful platform that has been given to me,
02:34and I'm going to use it very, very wisely to spread my message of awareness on various problems that we face,
02:39or celebrating what is good about our world further and wider.
02:43And also, sir, your mother has traveled with you today. So how excited is she?
02:49Oh, my mother has traveled with me for this particular, you know, because she did not accompany me for the Grammy Awards all three times.
02:55But this time she's traveled with me for the Padma Awards. I guess for her, this was more important than the Grammy Awards, obviously.
03:01I think it is a far more prestigious award. And so she's extremely excited. I'm very excited, but I guess she's even more excited.
03:10And lastly, sir, how are you going to celebrate?
03:14So this award was announced on the 25th of January, that is the eve of Republic Day.
03:20So I've been celebrating ever since then. But I guess this is the end of the celebrations.
03:25And now, you know, we have to work hard and we have to do something absolutely amazing.
03:29Thank you so much for your time, sir. Congratulations once again. Keep making India proud.
03:35Thank you so much.
03:36Thank you so much.