Hyderabad: Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy announced that the annual Nandi Awards given to film personalities by the state government will be replaced by the Gaddar awards, named after the late balladeer-activist.
The Gaddar awards will be given every year on January 31 to poets, artists, and film personalities. A government order will be issued in this regard.
Revanth Reddy said film personalities who met him demanded that the Nandi Awards be revived.
Nandi Awards were last announced in 2017 and there have been demands from the Telugu film industry to revive the same.
Revanth Reddy recalled Gaddar’s contributions to spreading social awareness through his folk songs. He said it was Gaddar who raised the voice for statehood to Telangana.
The Chief Minister said when people’s aspirations were not fulfilled in Telangana state which was formed on the foundation of sacrifices, Gaddar launched another movement.
He said the Congress government was inspired by Gaddar’s call for a people’s government.
Revanth Reddy said the Cabinet will discuss and take a decision on naming a district after Gaddar and also installing his statue on Tank Bund in Hyderabad.
He announced it during his address to an event commemmorating Gaddar’s birth anniversary at Ravindra Bharati in the city.
The decision comes in tune with the Congress-led state government’s idea to celebrate the late activist’s legacy. The government recently also announced its decision to celebrate Gaddar Jayanthi annually, along with the allotment of land in Tellapur for a statue.
The Nandi Awards are prestigious awards that recognize excellence in Telugu cinema, Telugu theatre, Telugu television, and lifetime achievements in Indian cinema.
They are presented annually by the Government of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and are named after the mythological bull, Nandi.
The awards are presented in four categories: Gold (Swarnam), Silver (Rajatam), Bronze (Kamsyam), and Copper (Raagi).
The Nandi Awards are synonymous with the highest recognition for actors and technicians of Telugu feature films to receive awards.
(With excerpts from IANS)
