The Telangana government has announced the winners of the first-ever Gaddar Telangana Film Awards 2024. The awards honor the best in Telugu cinema, with Kalki 2898 AD taking home Best Film and Allu Arjun winning Best Actor for Pushpa 2: The Rule.
The winners were revealed on May 29, 2025, ahead of the grand ceremony scheduled for June 14 in Hyderabad. The awards are named after the legendary revolutionary balladeer Gaddar and replace the earlier Nandi Awards.
A 15-member jury, led by veteran actress Jayasudha, reviewed 1,248 nominations across multiple categories. The awards recognize not just films and performances but also technical excellence and literature on cinema.
Full List of Winners
Best Films
Best Film: Kalki 2898 AD (Dir. Nag Ashwin)
Second Best Film: Pottel
Third Best Film: Lucky Bhaskar
National Integration Film: Committee Kurrollu
Children’s Film: 35 Chinna Katha Kadu
Environment/Heritage Film: Razakar
Wholesome Entertainment Film: Aay… Mem Friends Andi
Acting Awards
Best Actor: Allu Arjun (Pushpa 2: The Rule)
Best Actress: Nivetha Thomas (35 Chinna Katha Kadu)
Best Supporting Actor: SJ Suryah (Saripodhaa Sanivaaram)
Best Supporting Actress: Saranya Pradeep (Ambajipeta Marriage Band)
Technical & Creative Awards
Best Director: Nag Ashwin (Kalki 2898 AD)
Best Music Director: Bheems Ceciroleo (Razakar)
Best Male Playback Singer: Sid Sriram (Ooru Peru Bhairavakona)
Best Choreographer: Ganesh Acharya (Devara – “Ayudha Puja”)
Best Cinematographer: Vishwanath Reddy (Gaami)
Best Story Writer: Siva Paladugu (Music Shop Murthy)
Special Honors
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
Reactions from Winners
Allu Arjun dedicated his win to fans and the Pushpa team:
“I am truly honoured to receive the first Best Actor award for #Pushpa2 at the #GaddarTelanganaFilmAwards 2024. Heartfelt thanks to the Government of Telangana for this prestigious honour. All credit goes to my director Sukumar garu, my producers, and the entire Pushpa team. I dedicate this award to all my fans.”
Actor Jr NTR congratulated the winners on social media:
“Congratulations to all the winners of the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards 2024. It’s truly heartwarming to see the Government of Telangana take this initiative starting this year. Also, congrats to Ganesh Acharya ji on winning the Best Choreographer award for his work in Devara.”
Background of the Awards
The Gaddar Telangana Film Awards were introduced by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy in early 2024. They replace the Nandi Awards, which were last held in 2016 after controversies over favoritism and delays.
The awards aim to celebrate Telangana’s cultural identity and promote local talent. The ceremony will be held at HICC, Hyderabad, with top government officials and film personalities attending.
Upcoming Projects of Winners
Allu Arjun is reportedly working on a new project with director Atlee, tentatively titled AA22xA6.
Nag Ashwin, director of Kalki 2898 AD, is already planning his next big film.
Dulquer Salmaan, who won a Special Jury Award, has multiple pan-India projects in the pipeline.
The Gaddar Telangana Film Awards mark a fresh start for recognizing excellence in Telugu cinema. With a mix of commercial hits and meaningful films, the awards highlight the diversity of Telangana’s film industry.
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