New Delhi – The 72nd National Film Awards have brought immense pride to the Telugu film industry, which clinched an impressive nine awards for films certified in 2024. The prestigious ceremony, announced on July 18, celebrated a diverse range of cinematic achievements, from big-budget spectacles to intimate indie gems, with Kalki 2898 AD and Pushpa 2: The Rule emerging as major winners.
Director Nag Ashwin’s ambitious sci-fi epic, Kalki 2898 AD, was adjudged the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Inspired by the Mahabharata, the film traverses three distinct worlds—Kasi, Shambala, and the futuristic Complex—earning praise for its visionary production design. Nitin Zihani Choudhary took home the award for Best Production Design for his meticulous creation of these immersive landscapes. The film, starring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan, is currently in production for its highly anticipated sequel.
Pushpa 2: The Rule, the highest-grossing Telugu film of 2024, secured two awards for its creative team. Director B. Sukumar won the Best Original Screenplay award, while costume designers Deepali Noor and Sheetal Sharma were honored with Best Costume Design for their striking work, particularly for Allu Arjun’s androgynous look in the culturally resonant Gangamma Jatara sequence.
The awards also recognized storytelling and performance in smaller films. Director Venky Atluri won the Best Dialogue Writer award for his blockbuster Lucky Baskhar, starring Dulquer Salmaan. Nanda Kishore Emani’s 35-Chinna Katha Kaadu was named the Best Children’s Film, with child actor Arundev sharing the Best Child Artist award with four others from different films. Debut director Yadhu Vamsi’s Committee Kurrollu, a nostalgic tale of friendship tackling class and caste divisions, won the Best Telugu Film award, with P. Ravi Kumar receiving Best Make-Up Artist for the same film.
The winners and their teams have since expressed their gratitude on social media, thanking the jury and audiences. The strong showing underscores the Telugu film industry’s creative vitality and its ability to produce both mass entertainers and critically acclaimed content that resonates on a national stage.
