The President of India announced the Padma Awards for 2026 and honoured 131 people from different fields. The list includes five Padma Vibhushan winners, 13 Padma Bhushan awardees and 113 Padma Shri recipients. Several names are from the Telugu states.
Two veteran Telugu actors Rajendra Prasad and Murali Mohan were selected for Padma Sri. Their recognition was meant to celebrate decades of work in Telugu cinema. Instead the announcement sparked a heated online reaction.
Soon after the list was released some people began calling the Padma Sri awards Kamma Sri awards. They claimed Rajendra Prasad and Murali Mohan were chosen because they belong to the same community as Chandrababu Naidu. These posts focused more on caste than on merit.
Such comments show how deeply caste and politics still shape public thinking. Many ignored the fact that these are national honours. The anger appeared driven more by political dislike than by any fair assessment of achievement.
Murali Mohan is a veteran Telugu actor who has acted in over 350 films. He has also won multiple Nandi Awards for his performances. His career has spanned decades with consistent work.
Rajendra Prasad is a legendary Telugu actor and comedian known for iconic roles in over 200 films. He has won several Nandi Awards and is respected for both comedy and serious roles. From the 1980s to today his contribution remains strong.
When people reduce such careers to caste they miss the real value of these honours. The moment society moves beyond caste and politics Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will truly progress. It is sad that this mindset is growing even among the young.
