Pomp and Gaiety mark Nandi Awards presentation

The Andhra Pradesh government-sponsored "Nandi Awards" presentation fete was held on Sunday in a grand manner with much pomp and gaiety for the first time in its history. The venue LB stadium got jam-packed with thousands of film enthusiasts, apart from the event being watched live by crores of people.

The presence of Mahesh Babu and Krishna fans, whose family owed allegiance to the Congress party, at the function brought the much required glitz to the gala. Cultural programs were organized in a more soulfully compared to the previous years.

Chief Minister Dr. YS Rajasekhar Reddy, who received wide applause from most of the stars present on the dais, presented the NTR award for the year 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 to Krishna, Ilayaraja, Ambarish and Waheeda Rehman, respectively.

The award consisted of Rs. 5 lakh cash, a memento and a citation. Similarly, the 33rd and 34th Raghupati Venkaiah Naidu Awards for 2005 and 2006 were presented to senior producers MS Reddy and Dr. D. Rama Naidu.

The event came out with more populist schemes for the Telugu film industry. The chief minister announced the hike in the movie ticket rates from Rs. 35 to Rs. 50. Minister for Information and tourism Mr. Anam Ramanarayana Reddy too said that the Nandi Awards latest announcement would be made soon, before the ensuing assembly elections.

The state government will also be issuing a GO, constituting the BN Reddy and B. Nagi Reddy National Awards from 200Mahesh Babu (Best Actor - 2005) said, "It is for the second time that I am taking this Nandi Award. For the first I receive this in the presence of my father. Athadu is my most favourite film and I am happy to receive the Nandi award for this." He thanked the film producer Jayabheri Kishore, director Trivikram and the fans of his father Krishna on this occasion.

Nagarjuna (Best Actor – 2006) said, "I can't remember exactly how many Nandi I received so far. For the first time, I see huge response to this Nandi Awards function. I take the opportunity to thank our chief minister Dr. YS Rajasekhar Reddy for his great gesture by enhancing the ticket rates, benefiting the film community. It's one of the happiest moments in my to receive the Nandi award for Ramadasu, as I had got it for my previous film Annamayya."

Earlier, veteran producer and star Mohan Babu speaking on the occasion said that the huge crowds came to see the chief minister Dr. YS Rajasekhar Reddy. He sought the gathering to see that the Congress party won again and that YSR made the CM again. Ambarish thanked the Telugu people for their love and affection for him, though he hailed from Karnataka.

Nandi Awards winners - 2005

Best Leading Actor Mahesh Babu - Athadu
Best Leading Actress Trisha - NVNV
Best Supporting Actor Srihari - NVNV
Best Supporting Actress Bhanupriya - Chatrapati
Best Director Krishna Vamsee - Chakram
Best Debut Director Surender Reddy - Athanokkade
Best Music Director MM Keeravani - Chatrapati
Best Villain Dr. Siva Prasad - Danger
Best Character Actor Chandramohan - Athanokkade
Best Male Comedian Suneel - Andhrudu
Best Female Comedian Santoshini - NVNV

Nandi Awards List (2006)

Best Feature Film : Bommarillu (Director Bhaskar)
Best Feature Film II: Godavari (Director Sekhar Kammula)
Best Feature Film III: Ganga
Best Family Entertainer: Sri Ramadasu
Best Popular Feature Film: Pokiri
National Integrity: Hanumanthu
Best Children's Feature Film: Bharati
Best Children's Feature Film II: Kittu
Best Director (Children's category films) : RS Raju, Bharati
Best Director: Sekhar Kammula (Godavari)
Best Actor: Akkineni Nagarjuna (Sri Ramadasu)
Best Actress: Nandita Das (Kamli)
Supporting Actor: Prakash Raj (Bommarillu)
Supporting Actress: Eeswari (Ganga)
Best Character Artiste: Kota Srinivasa Rao (Pellaina Kothalo)
Best Comedian: (Allu Ramalingiah Award) Venu Madhav (Lakshmi)
Best Comedian Actress: Abhinayasree (Paisalo Paramatma)
Best Villain: Sai Kumar (Samanyudu)
Best Child Actor: Raghava (Style)
Best Child Actress: Baby Sri Divya (Bharati)
Best Debut Director: Bhaskar (Bommarillu)
Screenplay: Bhaskar (Bommarillu)
Best Story: Ravi C Kumar (Samanyudu)
Best Dialogue Writer: Abburi Ravi (Bommarillu)
Best Lyricist: Andesree (Ganga – Vellipotunnava Talli)
Best Cinematographer: Vijay C Kumar (Godavari)
Best Music Director: KM Radhakrishna (Godavari)
Playback Singer: KJ Yesudas (Velli potunnava Talli – Ganga)
Playback Singer: Sunita (Godavari – Andanga Lena)
Editor: Marthand K. Venkatesh – Pokiri
Art: Ashok (Pournami)
Best Choreographer: Lawrence Raghava (Style)
Audiographer: Radhakrishna
Costumes: Basha (Sri Ramadasu)
Makeup: Ramachandra Rao (Sri Ramadasu)
Fights: Vijayan – Pokiri
Dubbing Artiste: Ravi Sarkar
Dubbing Artiste (Lady): Savita Reddy
Special Effects: Rhythm Of Spirit