Gaddar Telangana Film Awards 2024: Complete List of Winners

The Telangana government has unveiled the inaugural Gaddar Telangana Film Awards, named in tribute to the iconic revolutionary balladeer, Gaddar. The list of winners was announced on 29 May, ahead of the grand awards ceremony scheduled for 14 June in Hyderabad.

The awards jury, chaired by veteran actress Jayasudha, comprised a 15-member panel that reviewed 1,248 nominations across a wide range of categories — including an award for the Best Book on Cinema.

Here’s the complete list of winners for the first-ever Gaddar Telangana Film Awards:

Best Films

• Best Film: Kalki 2898 AD
• Second Best Film: Pottel
• Third Best Film: Lucky Bhaskar
• Best Film on National Integration: Committee Kurrollu
• Best Children’s Film: 35 Chinna Katha Kadu
• Best Film on Environment/Heritage/History: Razakar
• Best Wholesome Entertainment Film: Aay… Mem Friends Andi

Individual Honors

• Best Director: Nag Ashwin (Kalki 2898 AD)
• Best Debut Director: Sri Yedu Vamsee (Committee Kurrollu)
• Best Actor: Allu Arjun (Pushpa 2)
• Best Actress: Nivetha Thomas (35 Chinna Katha Kadu)
• Best Supporting Actor: SJ Suryah (Saripodhaa Sanivaaram)
• Best Supporting Actress: Saranya Pradeep (Ambajipeta Marriage Band)

Music & Performance

• Best Music Director: Bheems Ceciroleo (Razakar)
• Best Male Playback Singer: Sid Sriram (Ooru Peru Bhairavakona – “Nizame Ne Chebutunna”)
• Best Female Playback Singer: Shreya Ghoshal (Pushpa 2 – “Sooseki Aggi Ravva”)
• Best Comedians: Satya, Vennela Kishore (Mathu Vadalara 2)
• Best Child Artists: Arundev Pothula (35 Chinna Katha Kadu), Harika (Mercy Killing)

Writing & Technical Awards

• Best Story Writer: Siva Paladugu (Music Shop Murthy)
• Best Screenplay Writer: Venky Atluri (Lucky Bhaskar)
• Best Lyricist: Chandra Bose (Raju Yadav)
• Best Cinematographer: Vishwanath Reddy (Gaami)
• Best Editor: Navin Nooli (Lucky Bhaskar)
• Best Audiographer: Aravind Menon (Gaami)
• Best Choreographer: Ganesh Acharya (Devara – “Ayudha Puja”)
• Best Art Director: Adnithin Zihani Choudhary (Kalki 2898 AD)
• Best Action Choreographer: K Chandra Shekar Rathod (Gangster)
• Best Makeup Artist: Nalla Sreenu (Razakar)
• Best Costume Designers: Archana Rao, Ajay Kumar (Kalki 2898 AD)

Special Jury Awards

• Dulquer Salmaan (Lucky Bhaskar)
• Ananya Nagalla (Pottel)
• Sujith, Sandeep (KA)
• Prashanth Reddy, Rajesh Kallepally (Raju Yadav)
• Jury Special Mention: Faria Abdullah (Mathu Vadalara 2 – “Drama Nakko Mama”)

Literature on Cinema

• Best Book on Telugu Cinema: Mana Cinema First Reel by Rentala Jayadeva

This marks the Telangana government’s first independent initiative to honor excellence in Telugu cinema since the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014. The Gaddar Film Awards follow in the footsteps of the erstwhile Nandi Awards, which were last held in 2016. The Nandi Awards had previously been embroiled in controversies involving alleged casteism and political bias.

In January 2024, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy officially announced the launch of the Gaddar Film Awards, signaling a new era of recognition and inclusivity in Telugu cinema.