The Nandi Awards are annual awards presented by the Government of Andhra Pradesh to recognise excellence in

Telugu cinema Telugu cinema, also known as Tollywood, is the segment of Cinema of India, Indian cinema dedicated to the production of Film, motion pictures in the Telugu language, widely spoken in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Based in Film N ...

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...

, and television, as well as lifetime achievements in Indian cinema. The awards are named after the monolithic sculpture of the sacred bull, Nandi, at Lepakshi, a cultural and historical symbol of the

Telugu people Telugu people (), also called Āndhras, are an Ethnolinguistic group, ethno-linguistic group who speak the Telugu language, Telugu language and are native to the India, Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Yanam district of Puducher ...

. The Nandi Awards are categorised into four levels: Swarnam (Gold), Rajatam (Silver), Kamsyam (Bronze), and Raagi (Copper). In addition to film and television awards, the government also presents the Nandi Natakotsavam Awards to honour outstanding contributions in social, mythological, and poetic dramas in Telugu theatre.

History

The Government of Andhra Pradesh commissioned the Nandi Film Awards to recognise and commend the best films produced in the Telugu language in Andhra Pradesh from 1964 onwards. The objective of the film awards is to encourage the production of films in the Telugu language with high technical excellence and aesthetic values bearing cultural, educational, and social relevance and also promoting the integration and unity of the nation. Awards are given annually and are presented in a public event on Ugadi, Telugu New Year Day. The Government has transferred the activity relating to conferring Nandi Awards to the Film Television and Theatre Development Corporation. Since 1998, the awards have been organised by them. The Awards are given in the categories of feature films, feature films on national integration, children's films, documentary films, educational films, and books/articles on Telugu cinema in Telugu language for the best films, producers, directors, artistes, and technicians. The awards are usually in the form of ''Golden Nandi'', ''Silver Nandi'', ''Bronze Nandi'', and ''Copper Nandi'', in addition to medals, and commendation certificates.

Selection criteria

Annually, a state panel appointed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh selects the winning entries and the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh presents the awards at the public ceremony. A list of rules is presented every year in a document of regulations. The criteria for eligibility include many clauses. Among them is a direct requirement that the film, and particularly films entering the competition, should be produced in

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (ISO 15919, ISO: , , AP) is a States and union territories of India, state on the East Coast of India, east coast of southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, seventh-largest state and th ...

and

Telangana Telangana is a States and union territories of India, state in India situated in the Southern India, south-central part of the Indian subcontinent on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, ele ...

, and in case of co-production involving a foreign entity, there are as many conditions which should be fulfilled in order for the film to qualify. In order to be eligible for consideration of the jury, a film should be certified by the

Central Board of Film Certification The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is a statutory Motion picture content rating system, film-certification body in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of ...

between 1 January and 31 December. The Government does not have influence over which films are selected for consideration and which films ultimately win the award. However, there are strict criteria which determine whether a film is eligible for consideration by the jury panels.

Honorary Awards – Gold

Raghupathi Venkaiah Award

The award is named after Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu, and presented annually to "an eminent film personality for his outstanding contribution to

." (since 1980).

NTR National Award

The NTR National Award is named in the memory of former chief minister and actor N. T. Rama Rao, and is presented to "an eminent film personality every year for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian Cinema." (since 1996).

BN Reddy National Award

The award is named after director B. N. Reddy and is presented to "an eminent film director for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of the Indian Cinema," annually from 2009. The awardee receives a cash price of 2

lakh A lakh (; abbreviated L; sometimes written lac) is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand (100,000; scientific notation: 105). In the Indian 2, 2, 3 convention of digit grouping, it is written as 1,00,000. F ...

, a special memento, citation and shawl. * 2008: K. B. Tilak (director and producer) * 2009: K. Raghavendra Rao (film director) * 2011: Shyam Benegal (film director) Eenadu daily, Eeenadu Cinema, Page 10, Nandi lifetime achievement awards, retrieved, 24 March 2013. * 2012:

Singeetam Srinivasa Rao Singeetam Srinivasa Rao (born 21 September 1931) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, composer, and actor. He is widely regarded as one of India's most versatile and innovative filmmakers. He has directed around sixty films across ...

(director and producer) * 2013: A. Kodandarami Reddy (director) * 2014: S. S. Rajamouli (director) * 2015: Trivikram Srinivas (director) * 2016: Boyapati Srinu (director)

Nagireddy–Chakrapani National Award

Named after filmmakers, Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani, the award is presented annually since 2009 to "an eminent film producer or writer or technician or infrastructure provider to the film industry for outstanding growth and development of Indian cinema every year." The awardee receives a cash price of 2

, a special memento, citation and shawl. * 2008: Akkineni Ramesh Prasad – (film producer) * 2009: Ramoji Rao – (film producer) * 2010: M. Saravanan and Balasubramanian * 2011: G. Adiseshagiri Rao – (film producer) * 2012: Daggubati Suresh Babu – (film producer) * 2013: Dil Raju – (film producer) * 2014: R. Narayan Reddy (producer) * 2015: M. M. Keeravani (music director) * 2016: K. S. Rama Rao (producer)

Gold

* Best Feature Films – Gold, Silver and Bronze: since 1964 * Sarojini Devi Award for a Film on National Integration: since 1983 * Best Children Films – Gold and Silver: since 1978 * Best Documentary Films – Gold and Silver: since 1968 * Best Popular Feature Film: since 2005

Silver

* Best Actor: since 1977 * Best Actress: since 1977 * Best Director: since 1981 * Akkineni Award for Best Home-viewing Feature Film: since 1991 * Best Educational Film: since 1981

Copper

* Best Story Writer: since 1965 * Best Cinematographer: since 1977 * Best Music Director: since 1977 * Best Male Playback Singer: since 1977 * Best Female Playback Singer: since 1977 * Best Lyricist: since 1977 * Best Child Actress: since 1977 * Best Screenplay Writer: since 1978 * Best First Film of a Director: since 1981 * Best Supporting Actor: since 1981 * Best Supporting Actress: since 1981 * Best Audiographer: since 1981 * Special Jury Award: since 1981 * Best Child Actor: since 1981 * Best Editor: since 1981 * Best Art Director: 1981 * Best Makeup Artist: since 1981 * Best Dialogue Writer: since 1983 * Best Male Comedian: since 1985 * Best Choreographer: since 1985 * Best Villain: since 1985 * Best Costume Designer: since 1985 * Best Character Actor: since 1994 * Best Character Actress: since 1994 * Best Book on Telugu Cinema: since 1995 * Best Film Critic on Telugu Cinema: since 1995 * Best Male Dubbing Artist: since 1997 * Best Female Dubbing Artist: since 1997 * Best Female Comedian: since 1999 * Best Fight Master: since 1999 * Best Special Effects: since 2005

Nandi Award for Best Educational Film

Since 1981, a Nandi Award for Best Educational Film has been attributed, although it was not awarded even year.

References

{{Television Awards in India, state=collapsed Telugu cinema Entertainment in India Awards established in 1964 Nandi Award winners Indian film awards 1964 establishments in Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh awards