The inaugural Gaddar Telangana Film Awards, instituted by the Telangana government to honor a decade of Telugu cinema from 2014 to 2023, have sparked debate within the industry. While some well-deserving films and artists were recognized, critics argue that the awards appear to have been strategically distributed across various industry and political camps.
From Nandamuri Balakrishna to Vijay Deverakonda, from Allu Arjun to Mahesh Babu, and from Ashwini Dutt to Dil Raju, every influential group in Tollywood seems to have received a share of the honors. This balanced representation has led to speculation that the awards were designed more to appease than to reward excellence.
Many believe that Dil Raju, who currently serves as the chairman of the Telangana Film Development Corporation (TFDC), may have leveraged his position to distribute awards in a manner that preserves political neutrality and industry goodwill.
Adding to the skepticism is the timing. Dil Raju is reportedly seeking the dates of several leading stars for his upcoming projects. At present, actors like Allu Arjun, Prabhas, NTR, Ram Charan, and Mahesh Babu are primarily collaborating with other production banners such as Mythri Movie Makers, Sun Pictures, and Vyjayanthi Movies. Notably, Ram Charan, who recently starred in Dil Raju’s production “Game Changer,” is said to be uninterested in teaming up again.
On the other hand, Allu Arjun has reportedly promised to work with Dil Raju in the near future, acknowledging the producer’s recent support. Prabhas, too, is rumored to have committed to a future collaboration. These dynamics have fueled the perception that the Gaddar Awards, intentionally or otherwise, served as a tool to strengthen Dil Raju’s position within the industry and pave the way for future deals.
