Nandi Awards to Be Presented Soon in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh Minister Kandula Durgesh announced that the prestigious Nandi Natakotsavams (Nandi Drama Festivals) will be celebrated with grandeur in November this year. He made these remarks while attending the centenary celebrations of Ambika Institutions’ founder Alapati Ramachandra Rao, held at the YMHA Hall in the Sri Mothey Gangaraju campus, Eluru. The event was jointly organized by Ambika Institutions, Hindu Yuvajana Sangham, and Helapuri Kala Parishath, and featured a national-level Telugu drama competition, where Kandula Durgesh was the chief guest.

On this occasion, Kandula Durgesh highlighted the government’s commitment to promoting the arts and cultural sectors. He emphasized that the coalition government is actively supporting cultural endeavors, and has been instrumental in revitalizing artistic traditions, particularly those that had been neglected in the past five years. He stated, “As soon as we assumed office, we began restoring awards that had not been conferred in the last five years, including those for poetry-based dramas.” He also noted that the government has already presented the Ugadi and Kandukuri Awards.

Kandula Durgesh declared that the celebrated Nandi Natakotsavams, which have brought national recognition to Andhra Pradesh, will be organized on a grand scale. He further announced that the Nandi Awards, traditionally given for excellence in television and cinema, will be reinstated and conferred alongside the drama festivals this November.

The minister revealed that he had recently met with Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, in New Delhi and urged him to establish a branch of the National School of Drama (NSD) in Andhra Pradesh to nurture the state’s artistic talent. He mentioned that Rajamahendravaram, known for its deep-rooted cultural heritage, is a promising location for this initiative.

Kandula Durgesh added that the state government aims to elevate Andhra Pradesh’s tourism sector to new heights through public-private partnership (PPP) models. He concluded by stating that efforts will be made to further develop the film industry in Amaravati in the future.