IPL 2025 final: Shankar Mahadevan pays tribute to armed forces. Watch | Bollywood News
The IPL final is always a celebration, and one of the most important days in the Indian cricket calendar. This year’s final was no different as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) locked horns in the final for ultimate glory. In the closing ceremony before the match, singer Shankar Mahadevan took the stage and gave a fitting tribute to the Indian armed forces, as he sang some of the patriotic songs from his discography along with his sons Siddharth and Shivam.
A patriotic tribute ceremony for the Indian Armed Forces 🇮🇳
Shankar Mahadevan with a performance worthy of the occasion 🫡#TATAIPL | #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @Shankar_Live pic.twitter.com/ywZz6l1woH
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025
The singer started the performance with the title track of the 2004 film Lakshya, starring Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta Amitabh Bachchan and Boman Irani. Of course, Zinta was present in the Narendra Modi Stadium to reminisce, as she is the owner of the Punjab Kings franchise. Mahadevan sons joined in to sing the song “Lehra Do” from the film ’83, starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Ammy Virk, Wamiqa Gabbi and Hardy Sandhu. ’83 was about India’s triumph in the 1983 cricket world cup and the song “Lehra Do,” was originally sung Arijit Singh.
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During the performance, four helicopters soared over the stadium, bearing the Indian flag and symbols of the three armed forces in a display of strength and resilience. Many fans reacted to the spectacle and the performance. A fan commented, “Salute to Indian armed forces,” while another wrote, “Love to hear it always, Jai Ho Vijay Ho.”
A stage lit not just lights, but also love for the nation 🇮🇳
A Tribute Ceremony dedicated to the Indian Armed Forces 🫡
Updates ▶ https://t.co/U5zvVhcvdo#TATAIPL | #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @RCBTweets | @PunjabKingsIPL pic.twitter.com/OCnY9wYLPs
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025
The tribute comes after the Indian armed forces took definitive action while responding to the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, in which 26 civilians were killed.
