Nandi Awards biased, nepotism in jury: Telugu film personalities lash out

Jury member Balakrishna’s film won eight awards.
 Nandi Awards biased, nepotism in jury: Telugu film personalities lash out
Nandi Awards biased, nepotism in jury: Telugu film personalities lash out
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Controversy refuses to die down around the Nandi awards, as more and more Telugu film personalities spoke out about nepotism and bias in the jury.

Telugu film director Gunasekhar, expressing anguish that his film Rudramadevi did not even get jury recognition, took to Twitter to publish an open letter addressed to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.

 

In his letter, Gunasekhar faulted the jury for not giving his movie due recognition, and questioned if it was “wrong on my part to seeking for exemption of entertainment tax for Rudramadevi? When another historical movie Gautamiputra Satakarni was exempted, why can't my movie be exempted? Is it a question that has no answer?” he questioned.

On Tuesday, the state government announced the Nandi Film Awards for 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Blockbuster film Baahubali, which released in 2015, bagged 13 Nandi awards in different categories, while Nandamuri Balakrishna’s film Legend got eight awards. Balakrishna is one of the jury members. 

Talking to the media, Gunasekhar said that it is unfair that Allu Arjun, despite his good acting in Racegurram didn't get the award.

 

Racegurram producer Nallamalupu Bujji also alleged that there was nepotism in the way the awardees were selected. "That’s how much lobbying they did. We didn’t. All the awards I’ve won so far are genuine,” he said.

While stating that Allu Arjun's name has been deliberately missed from the list, Bujji also questioned what elements movies like Rudramadevi and Manam (which also didn’t win an award) lack.

Controversial film director Ram Gopal Varma also took a dig at the jury, saying that "the jury must be given an Oscar for their extraordinarily meritorious selections.”

Producer Bandla Ganesh too came down heavily on the awards distribution procedure. "It is very clear they have ignored the mega family and have only given awards to their relatives and people who belong to their party."

He also criticized actor Balakrishna for taking the 'Best Actor Award’ despite being a jury member.

"How is it fair to take the Best Actor award being a member of the committee and an MLA," he questioned.

 

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