Ricky Kej
A Bengaluru composer and three-time Grammy winner who uses music to campaign for the environment with UN agencies, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.
Ricky Kej is a composer who has won three Grammy Awards and uses his music to campaign for the planet. In 2025 he was named for the Padma Shri in the field of art, from Karnataka [1].
A musician against expectations
Ricky Gyan Kej was born on 5 August 1981 and chose music despite the expectations of family and society [2]. He has released 25 studio albums, composed more than 3,500 advertisements and scored eight films, including the nature documentary Wild Karnataka, narrated by David Attenborough [2]. He also composed music for the opening ceremony of the 2011 Cricket World Cup in Dhaka [2].
He is a three-time Grammy winner and has been nominated four times [2]. He has performed in more than 35 countries, including at the United Nations in New York and Geneva [2].
Music for the planet
His work focuses on environmental conservation and climate action [2]. He is a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, for which he composed its “Land Anthem”, and works with UNHCR, UNICEF and the WHO’s “Make Listening Safe” campaign [2].
A chapter about his life is taught in Class 7 English textbooks in India [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2025: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2025: citation for Ricky Kej — Padma Awards, Government of India. Accessed 12 October 2026.
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