Veteran singer Suresh Wadkar, who has been conferred with the Padma Shri this year, is grateful to the government. However, the singer feels he would have been happier if he had received the award on time.

"It feels amazing. Every artist waits for an honour like this and it feels great to have received it. I was waiting for this honour for a long time. I thought I would perhaps have to wait for the award this year as well but I finally received it," Suresh Wadkar told IANS.