AP Revives Nandi Awards, Announces Timeline for 2012-2025 Honours

Andhra Pradesh Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh has announced key decisions regarding the presentation of the Nandi Film and Television Awards, saying the government will constitute a committee in September and announce the award details in October. The government plans to complete the award ceremonies by December 2026, bringing back the prestigious state honours for the Telugu entertainment industry.

The minister said the coalition government has decided to go ahead with the presentation of the previously announced Nandi Film and Television Awards for the period between 2012 and 2016. The decision is intended to clear the backlog of awards and recognise contributions made by artistes, technicians and other professionals in the Telugu film and television sectors during these years.

For the subsequent period, the government has approved a separate award structure covering 2017 to 2024. According to Durgesh, four awards will be presented for each year during this period. These will comprise two production awards and two special jury awards, with the government having issued a formal Government Order (GO) to implement the decision.

The minister also announced that the 2025 Nandi Film and Television Awards will be presented as part of the government’s renewed initiative to recognise achievements in the entertainment industry. The move will cover multiple years of awards and is aimed at restoring continuity to the state’s recognition programme.

The government has also finalised venues for the ceremonies. The Nandi Film Awards and National Film Awards will be organised in Amaravati or Vijayawada, while the Nandi Television Awards will be held in Tirupati. The government intends to complete the presentation of all the awards by December 2026.

Durgesh said the initiative was aimed at providing greater encouragement to the Telugu film industry while giving wider recognition to the contributions of professionals working across cinema and television. He said the government wanted the Nandi awards to be conducted on a grand scale and restore their prominence as an important platform for honouring talent in the Telugu entertainment sector.

The minister added that the ceremonies would be organised in accordance with the directions of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan. The government is expected to announce further details, including the award categories and selection process, in October.