Nandi awards in limbo

No one knows what is to become of the state’s prestigious Nandi awards. Every year, the government appoints a committee that shortlists the recipients for the awards. While the government presents the awards in a big ceremony on Ugadi (March 31), no committee has been appointed yet.
The awards committee works with the Andhra Pradesh Film Development Corporation (AFDC). Managing director of APFDC, Dana Kishore, says “When a new CM is appointed or Governor’s Rule imposed, we will take a decision regarding the committee. It depends on the situation.” He adds that the election code would be in place soon and he wasn’t sure whether the awards could be announced then.
While the current situation is not encouraging, it is also not clear what will happen to the awards once the state is bifurcated. There are questions regarding whether both governments will jointly appoint a committee and announce the winners or whether the governments will give separate awards. When asked about these awards, producer D. Suresh Babu feels that this year the awards would be there.
“We don’t know and we never thought of it. But I feel this year they will give it for sure. If the industry is here, this government will give the award. It might be given by the two governments later,” adds Suresh Babu. “Theatre, film and culture may be clubbed under one award,” he says.
Not only for films, Nandi awards are also given for Telugu theatre, Telugu television and lifetime achievements. The AP government also gives the prestigious NTR National Award every year for service to cinema.