Gaddar Film Awards guidelines finalised, event set for April

Telangana Film Development Corporation (TFDC) Chairman Dil Raju held a media conference to provide updates on the upcoming Gaddar Film Awards. He announced that a committee had finalised the guidelines for these prestigious awards.
“For films released between June 2014 and December 2023, we have decided to present a Best Film Award,” said Dil Raju. Starting from 2024, the awards will expand to include all major categories across different departments of filmmaking. He confirmed that the event is scheduled to take place in April.
“We are working to make this a grand event with the full support of the TFDC and the film industry. The government has requested us to organise a large-scale event, so we are starting preparations immediately,” he stated.
Dil Raju also addressed concerns regarding the previously planned Simha Awards under the BRS government. “After the formation of Telangana, some filmmakers applied for Simha Awards and even paid fees to the TFDC. However, the awards never materialised. We are now refunding the amounts that were paid at that time,” he clarified. A dedicated committee of industry professionals has been formed to oversee the awards process. “The jury will be finalized within a week, after which they will begin their work,” Dil Raju stated.
He also mentioned that the Gaddar Award trophy design would be finalised within the same timeframe.
When asked about the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce also announcing its own film awards, Dil Raju dismissed any concerns about competition. “They are not competing with the government awards. Anyone can give awards and there is nothing wrong with that,” he said.
He also noted that while not everyone may support the initiative, the majority are in favour of it. “If 51% of people are speaking positively about the awards, that’s a good sign. For everything, 49% will always be against it, but that doesn’t matter—the majority support is what counts,” he concluded. There are awards in honour of Telangana pride Paidi Jayaraj and late actor Kantha Rao in this Gaddar Film Awards. Dil Raju said apart from Telugu cinema, they are also giving importance to Urdu Cinema.