The first edition of Telangana government’s prestigious Gaddar awards, instituted in the name of late revolutionary poet balladeer Gaddar, were announced on Thursday with Nag Ashwin’s sci-fi drama Kalki 2898 AD bagging the coveted First Best Feature Film award, while the writer-director went on to win the Best Director award.
The second big winner was Allu Arjun, who was declared as the Best Leading Actor for his tour de force performance in Pushpa: The Rule, which went on to conquer Telugu and Indian box offices. Nivetha Thomas was adjudged as the Best Leading Actress for her nuanced and inspiring portrayal of a mother who helps her young son overcome the difficulties in Mathematics in the Tirupati-set drama 35: Chinna Katha Kadhu. Master Arundev from the same film was picked for the Best Child Artist. He will share the award with Baby Harika who won the award for Mercy Killing.
Other big winners include SJ Suryah who won the Best Supporting Actor (male) for his turn in Saripodha Sanivaaram, while Saranya Pradeep won the Best Supporting Actor (female) for Ambajipeta Marriage Band. Composer in red-hot form Bheems Ceciroleo won the Best Music Director award for Razakar. Best Comedian award will be shared by Vennela Kishore and Satya for their hilarious turns in Mathu Vadalara 2.
Siva Paladugu won the Best Story writer award for Music Shop Murthy, while Venky Atluri was adjudged to bag the Best Screenplay Writer trophy for Lucky Bhaskar. Dulquer Salmaan, for his role in Lucky Bhaskar, has been chosen for the Special Jury Award.
The Second Best Feature and the Third Best Feature went to films like Pottel and Lucky Bhaskar respectively.
In the technical department, Best Cinematographer award went to Vishwanath Reddy for Gaami, while Best Editor award was bagged by Navin Nooli for Lucky Bhasker. Yedu Vamsee was picked as the Best Debut Feature Film Director Award for his Committee Kurrollu, with the same film chosen as the Best Feature Film on National Integration, Communal Harmony and Social Uplift of Depressed Classes.
Eminent journalist and author Rentala Jayadev will be feted with the Best Book on Telugu Cinema for his work, Mana Cinema First Reel.
Chairperson of the Jury Committee for the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards Jayasudha shared the awards list in the presence of Dil Raju, Chairman of the Telangana Film Development Corporation (TFDC) and other jury members like actor-director Jeevitha, directors VN Aditya, Siva Nageswara Rao, lyricist Kasarla Shyam and Venkata Ramana, idlebrain.com founder and editor.
