The Nandi Awards are finally making a comeback. The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to clear the pending Nandi Film and TV Awards from 2012 to 2016, while also introducing a plan to recognise the subsequent years.
According to AP Film Development Corporation chairman P. Bharat Bhushan, the government will give four awards for each year from 2017 to 2024, including two production awards and two special jury awards. Nandi Film and TV Awards will also be given for 2025.
The government has set a clear timeline for the process. Committees will be formed in October, the selection process will take place in November and the award ceremonies are planned for December 2026. The Nandi Film Awards will be held in Amaravati or Vijayawada, while the TV Awards will take place in Tirupati.
The scale of the film awards is also significant. A total of 46 awards will be presented across various categories, including films, performances, acting and technical areas. Winners will receive Nandi awards in gold, silver, bronze and copper, along with certificates and cash prizes. Eight gold medals will also be given in different categories.
The government has also announced 48 awards in the television category. Along with this, national film awards such as the NTR National Film Award, B.N. Reddy National Film Award and Raghupathi Venkaiah Film Award will be presented with cash prizes.
The revival is not limited to cinema and television either. The government is also bringing back the Nandi theatre awards, with a theatre festival planned in Tenali in January 2027.
After years of uncertainty around the Nandi Awards, the government has now put a schedule on paper. The real challenge will be executing this massive backlog and bringing the awards back to the level of importance they once had in Telugu cinema.
