Hyderabad, India — The recent launch of the Telangana Gaddar Film Awards has come under scrutiny following revelations that the jury viewed very few of the films honored during the event. Many awards were reportedly based on informal recommendations rather than thorough evaluations, leading to questions about the awards’ integrity.
Held on June 14, the awards ceremony celebrated movies released between 2014 and 2024. Among the standout winners were Allu Arjun, who received the Best Actor award, and Kalki 2898 AD, which was named Best Film. Despite a substantial budget for the event and the revival of the awards after a hiatus following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the process has ignited concerns over its transparency and fairness.
The awards, named after the renowned Marxist singer and activist Gaddar, aimed to acknowledge cinematic contributions to Telangana. However, a jury member disclosed that many selections relied heavily on members’ personal recommendations rather than a comprehensive review of films. This lack of scrutiny has drawn considerable criticism from both industry insiders and the public.
The state allocated generous cash prizes, with some awards offering up to ₹10 lakh, significantly more than those associated with national film awards. However, the ceremony faced embarrassment when multiple winners were absent, indicating dissatisfaction with the selection process. Observers noted that the rush to meet a 30-day deadline left the jury with insufficient time to assess the nearly 300 films eligible for consideration.
As the ceremony unfolded, controversy heightened around specific award choices. Notably, the film Razakar was selected for the Best Environment/Heritage/History category, despite being criticized by some jury members as historically inaccurate and politically biased. Tensions intensified further when Allu Arjun accepted his award amid ongoing legal scrutiny related to a November 2024 incident at a cinema linked to his film’s release, which resulted in public criticism from Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
The hasty resurrection of the awards followed the discontinuation of the Nandi Film Awards after the 2014 bifurcation. The newly elected Congress government sought to restore recognition in the film industry but faced challenges when tasked with earlier years’ evaluations. While entries for 2024 were formally invited, previous years had award selections made arbitrarily without a structured submission process.
Under the oversight of veteran actor Jaya Sudha, the jury comprised various industry members, including directors, actors, journalists, and film analysts. Nonetheless, systematic methodologies traditionally employed in awards management, such as appraisal forms assessing storytelling, direction, and music quality, were reportedly bypassed this time.
The rapid selection process led to concerns among judges, who felt that significant films may have been overlooked. A jury member expressed disappointment, noting that the awards lacked the proper mechanisms needed to evaluate films’ merits fairly.
Observers also highlighted ethical dilemmas, particularly given the political undertones evident in some award selections and the visible affiliations among jury members. These factors have sparked discussions regarding the awards’ credibility moving forward.
The Telangana Gaddar Film Awards, while reintroducing a culture of recognition for local films, face a challenging path ahead. Gaining trust from the filmmaking community and ensuring that future evaluations are conducted with the thoroughness they deserve will be vital for the awards’ long-term success.
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