The Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce has decided to host film awards to honor the Telugu film fraternity. “For the first time, a trade body will organize film awards in Tollywood,” says Prassanna Kumar, Treasurer of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce. He points out that similar trade bodies in Kerala and Karnataka have been hosting such awards for years.
“February 6 marks the birthday of Telugu cinema, as the first talkie film, Bhakta prahladawas released on this day. The legendary H.M. Reddy directed the film. Prior to Bhakta prahlada, Kalidasu was released in 1931, featuring four reels of Telugu songs and dialogues. No matter how you see it, Telugu cinema has now earned global recognition,” he added.
The Chamber’s inaugural awards ceremony will take place on February 6, 2026. “We will invite applications from producers for films released between January 1 and December 31 each year. Awards will be presented to the best actor, actress, director, and around 30 other categories. We plan to adopt certain rules followed by the National Film Awards and Indian Panorama at film festivals to ensure a transparent selection process,” he explained.
With the Telangana government launching the Gadar Film Awards and the Andhra Pradesh government planning to revive the Nandi Awards, some might see the Chamber’s initiative as competition. However, Kumar clarifies, “Not at all. We respect state and national awards. Our goal is to remain neutral and recognize Telugu talent without regional bias. In fact, we will also felicitate winners of state and national awards. The Chamber, as the apex body representing thousands of producers, as well as studios, distributors, and exhibitors, aims to set an example by organizing a prestigious and independent awards ceremony.”
