Nandi Awards to be renamed Kakateeya?

The Nandi Awards will most probably be renamed as the Kakateeya Awards from this year onwards. The Cabinet sub-committee headed by cinematography minister T. Srinivasa Yadav on Monday invited Telugu Film Industry (TFI) personalities to discuss about the developments of the industry.

Among the issues discussed at the meet were film awards, a single window system for shootings and a film institute. “The government is keen on developing the film industry in Telangana,” said Ram Mohan Rao, president of Telangana State Film Chamber of Commerce.

The government has asked I&PR commissioner Naveen Mittal and government advisor Ramanachari to form a committee regarding awards. “The committee will decide about the awards and an announcement could  be made in April,” said Rao.

According to a source, the government is keen to replace Nandi Awards with Kakateeya or Yadadri Awards. “Mostly probably it will be Kakateeya Awards  as it got the most positive response,” said the source.

Thus from this year, the Nandi Awards will be replaced with the new awards. The committee also agreed to a single window system for film shootings.

“Producers will get permissions within two days, there will be no need to approach many people for permissions,” added Rao.

“Currently many single theatres have only four shows. The government has now agreed for a fifth show, but only for small-budget films. It will be an evening show,” said Rao. If theatres do not screen small films, they can only have four shows.

TFI was represented by the presidents of Telangana and AP Film Chambers, Ram Mohan Rao and Suresh Babu, respectively, along with Dasari Narayana Rao, Thammareddy Bharadwaj, Adiseshagiri Rao, Murali Mohan, Shyam Prasad Reddy and Shankar among others.