Many individuals receive Padma awards, yet only a few are widely regarded as truly deserving by the public.
At the same time, several towering figures who made lasting contributions to Indian culture remain overlooked throughout their lifetime.
One such legend is Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, now 94, whose contribution to Indian cinema is extraordinary.
Beginning his career during the era of Mayabazar as an associate director, he went on to create pathbreaking films across Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam cinema.
He also directed Pushpaka Vimanam, a rare silent film in the modern era that spoke powerfully without dialogue and earned international acclaim.
Singeetham was also the first Indian filmmaker to bring the concept of a time machine to the screen with Aditya 369. Despite receiving several state and national awards, he has never been honoured with a Padma award.
Many netizens have expressed shock over this omission even in 2026 by the Government Of India, with growing calls for him to be recognised with the Padma Vibhushan, befitting his stature.