📌 Key Points
- The Telangana government launched the Gaddar Film Awards in 2025, replacing the Nandi Awards.
- Naga Chaitanya won Best Actor for ‘Thandel,’ and Rashmika Mandanna won Best Actress for ‘The Girlfriend’.
- The awards ceremony is scheduled for Ugadi, March 19, with Tollywood celebrities in attendance.
- Thammareddy Bharadwaj led the jury that selected the winners for the second annual Gaddar Awards.
The Telangana Gaddar Film Awards 2025 winners have been revealed, recognizing excellence in Telugu cinema. Naga Chaitanya and Rashmika Mandanna emerged as top winners. The awards, replacing the Nandi Awards, will be presented on March 19th.
Gaddar Film Awards Announced
Telangana Gaddar Film Awards 2025 full list: The Telangana State Film Awards were announced on Saturday. See who made the list.
Replacing the Nandi Awards, which were held in a unified Andhra Pradesh state, the Gaddar Film Awards were launched in 2025 by the Telangana state government for films released in 2024. The 2025 awards were announced on Saturday, with the government, led by CM Revanth Reddy , recognising excellence in cinema.
While the awards show will be held on Ugadi, March 19, with Tollywood celebrities in attendance, the announced list shows that Naga Chaitanya and Rashmika Mandanna won big this year. A jury led by filmmaker Thammareddy Bharadwaj announced the winners of the second year of the Gaddar Awards. See the full list:
Second Best Film: Dhandoraa
Third Best Film: The Great Pre-Wedding Show
Best Director: Sailu (Raju Weds Rambai)
Best Actor: Naga Chaitanya (Thandel)
Best Actress: Rashmika Mandanna (The Girlfriend)
Best Supporting Actor: Sivaji (Dhandoraa)
Best Supporting Actress: Bhumika (Euphoria)
Best Music Director: Mark K Robin (Dhandoraa)
Best Male Playback Singer: Anurag Kulkarni (Raju Weds Rambai)
Best Female Playback Singer: Sahithi Chaganti (Kannappa)
Best Comedian: Krishna Teja (Jigris)
Key Winners of the 2025 Awards
Best Child Actor: Rohan Roy (The Great Pre-Wedding Show)
Best Environmental Film: Igua
Best Debut Feature Film: Little Hearts
Best Entertainment Film: Sankranthiki Vasthunnam
Best Social Message Film: Court
Best Special Effects Film: Mirai
Best Children’s Film: Anaganagana
Best Story Writer: Gunasekhar (Euphoria)
Best Screenplay Writer: Anil Ravipudi
Best Lyricist: Nandakishore (Kuberaa)
Best Cinematographer: Karthik Ghattamaneni (Mirai)
Best Editor: Sreekar Prasad (Mirai)
Best Audiographer: M. R. Rajakrishnan (Kishkindhapuri)
Technical and Special Category Awards
Best Choreographer: Gira Gira Gira (Champion)
Best Art Director: Thota Tharani (Champion)
Best Makeup Artist: Govind (Akhanda 2)
Best Costume Designer: Chandrakant (Champion)
Best Actor: Chaitu Jonnalagadda (Raju Weds Rambai)
Best Actress: Ananthika (8 Vasanthalu)
Special Jury Hero: Roshan (Champion)
Kantha Rao Award: R Narayana Murthy
BN Reddy Award: Singeetam Srinivasa Rao
Paidi Jairaj Award: Kamal Haasan
Nagireddy Chakrapani Award: Ashwini Dutt
C Narayana Reddy Award: Suddala Ashok Teja
Congratulatory messages have been pouring in for winners in various categories, including the honorary awards. In its debut year, Allu Arjun won the Best Actor Award for Pushpa 2: The Rule, while Nivetha Thomas won the Best Actress Award for 35 – Chinna Katha Kaadu. Nag Ashwin won Best Director for Kalki 2898 AD, which also won the Best Film Award. Dulquer Salmaan, Ananya Nagalla, Faria Abdullah and others won in various categories.
The Gaddar Film Awards highlight the best of Telugu cinema. With Naga Chaitanya and Rashmika Mandanna’s wins, and honors for industry legends, the event promises a star-studded celebration of cinematic achievement.
