In January 2024, the Revanth Reddy government decided to rename the Nandi awards related to the film industry as Gaddar awards. These awards will be presented annually on the birth anniversary of the famous balladeer. The first Telangana Gaddar Film Awards will take place at an elaborate ceremony at Hitex this Saturday.
A special program filled with cultural and entertainment activities is planned to captivate the audience. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and well-known film personalities will give out awards in various categories. The Telangana State Film Development Corporation (TGFDC) has already declared the winners for the period from 2014 to 2023. Prabhas‘ movie ‘Kalki’ won Best Film, while ‘Pottel’ and ‘Lucky Bhaskar’ were awarded Second Best and Third Best Film respectively. Allu Arjun received the Best Actor award for his role in ‘Pushpa 2’, and Nivetha Thomas was named Best Leading Actress for ‘Chinna Katha Kadu’. Nag Ashwin took home the Best Director award for ‘Kalki’.
Officials indicated that the Chief Minister might announce incentives for the Telugu film industry. He is expected to outline the state’s plan to turn Hyderabad into India’s film capital by building modern facilities like a Film City, an animation hub, and introducing a special policy for the entertainment sector. A Cabinet Sub-Committee, led by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, has already tasked the TGFDC with creating a detailed development plan for the film industry.
Since taking office in 2023, Revanth Reddy has supported the idea of the Gaddar film awards. He is also eager to set up an entertainment hub in the planned Future City, which will cover 30,000 acres near Hyderabad. The state government plays a key role in boosting the entertainment industry, and the CM is ready to reveal several major initiatives at the award ceremony.
State Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy mentioned that the entire Telugu film industry, including veteran actors like Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, and Balakrishna, has been invited to attend the awards event.
