Telangana Gaddar Film Awards shine bright with star-studded ceremony

The maiden Telangana Gaddar Film Awards (TGFA) ceremony was organised in the presence of prominent film personalities, with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy as the chief guest.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Minister for Cinematography and Roads and Buildings Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and Film Development Corporation chairman Dil Raju lit the ceremonial lamp to kick off the event, which was also attended by veteran actors Jayaprada, Jayasudha and Suhasini.

The iconic State film awards were presented after a gap of 14 years after the Telangana government revived it under the name ‘Gaddar Telangana Film Awards’, paying tribute to the late revolutionary poet and balladeer Gaddar.

Actor Nandamuri Balakrishna received the ‘NTR National Film Award’, director Mani Ratnam the ‘Paidi Jairaj Film Award’ and Sukumar the ‘BN Reddy Film Award’. The ‘Kantha Rao Film Award’ was presented to Vijay Devarakonda. Film writer Yandamuri Veerendranath received the ‘Raghupathi Venkaiah Film Award’.

Veteran actor and jury chairman M. Muralimohan and members of the jury were felicitated. The designer of the TGFA, Ramavath Nagula Naik, and others, including film critic Ponnam Ravichandra, were also honoured at the event.

Actor Allu Arjun, who bagged the first best actor award for his blockbuster Pushpa 2, received the award from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and thanked the government for selecting him for the award.

Speaking on the occasion, he said he was truly honoured to receive the first award for Pushpa 2 at the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards 2024. “All credit goes to my director Sukumar, my producers and the entire Pushpa team. I dedicate this award to all my fans,” he said.

After receiving the ‘NTR National Film Award’, Nandamuri Balakrishna showered praise on the government for naming the film awards after balladeer Gaddar. He also remembered the contributions of his father, the late N.T. Rama Rao, to the Telugu film industry.

Gaddar Foundation chairman and Gaddar’s son Suryakiran, TGFDC MD S.Harish, and others were present at the event.

Published - June 16, 2025 06:23 pm IST