Legendary lyricist Javed Akhtar is slated to receive the prestigious SOA Sahitya Samman in 2025. This honor acknowledges his remarkable and enduring contributions to both Indian cinema and literature.
The award ceremony, part of the third SOA Literary Festival, will take place on November 29, 2025, at the university campus in Bhubaneswar. Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed to be University, the festival’s organizer, confirmed the date and venue.
Established by the university, the SOA Sahitya Samman is an annual recognition bestowed upon distinguished writers, poets, and thinkers. It celebrates individuals whose body of work demonstrates exceptional excellence, profound creativity, and significant intellectual depth.
Organizers lauded Mr. Akhtar as a celebrated scriptwriter, lyricist, poet, and visionary whose words have profoundly shaped India’s emotional and cultural narrative. His masterful lyrical genius has consistently enriched Hindi cinema, imbuing it with both profound depth and timeless appeal.
According to an official statement, Mr. Akhtar’s illustrious career includes five National Film Awards and 15 Filmfare Awards. He has also been graced with national civilian honors such as the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2007, alongside the esteemed Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014, among numerous other accolades.
His acclaimed poetry collections, ‘Tarkash’ and ‘Lava’, are celebrated as best-sellers in modern Hindi literature and have been translated into numerous Indian and international languages. Furthermore, Mr. Akhtar is recognized as an articulate advocate for reason and progress, having delivered speeches at prestigious global institutions such as Harvard, Oxford, and Cambridge universities.
The award comprises a cash prize of ₹7 lakh, a formal citation, a beautiful silver idol of Goddess Saraswati, and a ceremonial shawl. This distinguished honor is presented annually to an eminent Indian litterateur, whose literary contributions are made in any language recognized by the Constitution of India.