The family of music director Laxmikant has written to the ministries of Home and Information & Broadcasting, stating that the Padma Bhushan should’ve also been given to Laxmikant along with Pyarelal as they jointly composed the music for more than 700 films, working as a team. Pyarelal was decorated with the award for 2024, announced on the occasion of Republic Day. However, the name of Laxmikant did not figure in the list of the awardees.
“Pyare uncle definitely deserves it (award) and so does my dad because the work, the contribution, is the same… So when the government is giving such a big honour, it should have been to both,” said Laxmikant’s daughter. In her letters, Laxmikant’s wife, Jaya, appealed to the government to include her late husband in the honour.