On July 20, 2025, during the Bonalu festival in Hyderabad, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced a ₹1 crore cash reward for singer Rahul Sipligunj. This gesture fulfills a promise made by Reddy during the 2023 Assembly election campaign, where he pledged ₹1 crore to Sipligunj if the Congress party was voted to power. The announcement was made in the presence of various dignitaries, including Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, Ministers Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Jupalli Krishna Rao, and Ponnam Prabhakar, PCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud, and Mayor Gadwala Vijayalakshmi.
Rahul Sipligunj, hailing from the old city of Hyderabad, gained international recognition with the Oscar-winning song "Naatu Naatu" from the film "RRR." Chief Minister Reddy praised Sipligunj's journey from humble beginnings to global acclaim, highlighting his hard work and perseverance as an inspiration to the youth of Telangana.
Prior to the 2023 elections, as the then president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee, Reddy had announced financial assistance of ₹10 lakh to Sipligunj on behalf of the Congress party. He had also promised that the singer would be honored with ₹1 crore prize money after the Congress came to power, recognizing the fame he brought to the state through the Oscar-winning song.
The Bonalu festival, a significant cultural event in Hyderabad, provided a fitting occasion to honor Sipligunj's achievements. The festival, dedicated to the worship of Goddess Mahakaali, is celebrated with fervor in the old city, where Sipligunj's roots lie.
Rahul Sipligunj's recognition underscores the Telangana government's commitment to acknowledging and celebrating the contributions of its artists to the global cultural landscape.