A day after announcing Gaddar Telangana Film Awards (GTFA) for the year 2024, the Telangana government on Friday listed out Best Film Awards from 2014 to 2023. With the annual Nandi awards programme put on the backburner after the division of Andhra Pradesh, the Telangana government, in a welcoming move, decided to fete the Best Three films in each year from 2014 to 2023 with Gaddar Telangana Film Awards.
A committee under the chairmanship of senior actor-producer Murali Mohan was formed to this end and he announced the awards in Hyderabad on Saturday. In addition to Best Film Awards, special awards like NTR National Film Award, Raghupathi Venkaiah Film Award and Kantha Rao Film Award were also announced.
Sharwanand-starrer Run Raja Run was awarded the Best Film for 2014, with Paathshala and Alludu Sreenu receiving the Second and Third Best Film awards. For the year 2015, Gunasekhar’s historical drama Rudhramadevi bagged the first Best Film honours, with Kanche and Srimanthudu winning Second and Third Best Films.
Dil Raju’s Shatamanam Bhavathi was adjudged as the Best Film for 2016, followed by Pellichoopulu and Janatha Garage. SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus Baahubali: The Conclusion was crowned as the Best Film for 2017, with Fidaa and Ghazi taking the next pole positions. Mahanati, written and directed by Nag Ashwin, was declared as the Best Film for 2018, with Rangasthalam and C/0 Kancharapalem bagging Second Best Film and Third Best Film awards. Superstar Mahesh Babu-starrer Maharshi walked away with Best Film award in 2019, with Jersey and Mallesham taking the Second Best and Third Best Film trophies.
Allu Arun-top-lined Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo was honoured with the First Best Film for 2020, with Colour Photo and Middle Class Melodies ending up with Second Best and Third Best honours. SS Rajamouli’s RRR, starring Jr NTR and Ram Charn, walked away with the First Best Film for 2021, with Akhanda and Uppena emerging as Second Best and Third Best Films.
Sita Ramam was declared as the First Best film for 2022, with Karthikeya 2 and Major bagging Second Best and Third Best Films. Rounding up, for the year 2023, Venu Yeldandi’s Balagam won the top honour, with HanuMan and Bhagavanth Kesari winning the Second Best and Third Best Film awards. Feature film Praja Kavi Kaloji was feted with a special jury award.
In special awards categories, Nandamuri Balakrishna walked away with the biggest laurel, NTR National Film Award, while venerated director Mani Ratnam was chosen for Paidi Jairaj Film Award in Indian Film Personality category.
The high-flying Sukumar will be honoured with BN Reddy Film Award, while veteran producer Atluri Poorna Chandra Rao will be given Nagireddy and Chakrapani Film Award. Vijay Deverakonda was picked for Kantha Rao Film Award, while acclaimed novelist, motivational speaker and filmmaker Yendamoori Veerendranath was chosen for another big honour, Raghupathi Venkaiah Film Award.
