Kishan Reddy Hails Telugu Cinema at 72nd National Film Awards
Synopsis
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy congratulated the Telugu film fraternity on multiple wins at the 72nd National Film Awards, citing honours for 'Kalki 2898 AD', 'Committee Kurrollu', 'Pushpa 2', and 'Lucky Baskhar' across entertainment, screenplay, dialogue, design and performance categories.
Key Takeaways
'Kalki 2898 AD' won the Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment at the 72nd National Film Awards . 'Committee Kurrollu' was awarded Best Telugu Film at the same ceremony.
Sukumar won Best Original Screenplay for 'Pushpa 2' , while Venky Atluri won Best Dialogue for 'Lucky Baskhar' .
Arundev Pothula was recognised as Best Child Artist , and Deepali Noor and Sheetal Sharma won Best Costume Design for 'Pushpa 2' .
Kishan Reddy , also BJP Telangana state president, issued the congratulatory statement on 18 July 2026 .
The National Film Awards, instituted in 1954 , are among the Government of India's highest recognitions for cinematic excellence across all languages.
Union Coal and Mines Minister and BJP Telangana state president G. Kishan Reddy on Saturday, 18 July 2026 congratulated the Telugu film industry on its multiple honours at the 72nd National Film Awards, calling the recognition a testament to the creativity and dedication that continue to make Telugu cinema shine on the national stage.
Context
In his post on X, Kishan Reddy extended congratulations to the teams behind two award-winning Telugu productions. The film 'Kalki 2898 AD' won the Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment award, while 'Committee Kurrollu' was honoured as the Best Telugu Film. The minister described these wins as 'well-deserved honours' that reflect the industry's consistent pursuit of excellence.
He also named several individual winners: Arundev Pothula (Best Child Artist), Sukumar (Best Original Screenplay for 'Pushpa 2'), Venky Atluri (Best Dialogue Writer for 'Lucky Baskhar'), Nitin Zihani Choudhary (Best Production Design for 'Kalki 2898 AD'), P. Ravi Kumar (Best Make-Up Artist for 'Committee Kurrollu'), and Deepali Noor and Sheetal Sharma (Best Costume Design for 'Pushpa 2').
Policy Backdrop
The National Film Awards were instituted by the Government of India in 1954 to promote high standards of filmmaking across all Indian languages, including Telugu. The awards are administered by the Directorate of Film Festivals under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and are among the most prestigious state recognitions in Indian cinema.
Successive central governments have issued congratulatory statements following each edition of the National Film Awards, reinforcing a long-standing policy of treating regional film industries on par with Hindi cinema for national recognition. Telugu cinema, headquartered in Hyderabad, has in recent years produced several pan-India productions that have expanded the industry's national and international footprint.
Stakeholders and Impact
The wins carry significance for a wide range of stakeholders across the Telugu film ecosystem — from directors and writers to costume designers, make-up artists and child performers. Recognition at the national level provides career validation and often opens doors to wider distribution and cross-industry collaboration.
For Kishan Reddy, as BJP's Telangana state president, the statement also carries political resonance — publicly associating the party with pride in the state's cultural achievements. The acknowledgement of films such as 'Pushpa 2' and 'Kalki 2898 AD', which achieved significant commercial success beyond Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, underscores the growing national stature of Telugu cinema.
What's Next
The official gazette notification for the 72nd National Film Awards is expected to follow, formalising the list of winners across all categories. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting may also announce follow-up measures related to film incentives or promotion of regional cinema as part of broader cultural policy. All eyes in the Telugu film industry will be on the formal awards ceremony, where winners receive their recognition in the presence of senior government functionaries.
Point of View
Publicly championing Telugu cinema's national recognition allows him to align the party with regional cultural pride ahead of any electoral cycle. The breadth of the acknowledgement, covering seven individual winners across craft and creative categories, signals an attempt to speak to a wide cross-section of the industry rather than just its marquee stars. This fits a broader pattern of central government figures using the National Film Awards as a platform to demonstrate support for linguistic diversity in Indian cinema. The shout-out to pan-India blockbusters like 'Pushpa 2' and 'Kalki 2898 AD' also reflects the growing political salience of Telugu cinema's commercial and cultural reach beyond its home states.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Telugu films won at the 72nd National Film Awards?
'Kalki 2898 AD' won the Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment award, and 'Committee Kurrollu' was named the Best Telugu Film at the 72nd National Film Awards.
Who won Best Original Screenplay at the 72nd National Film Awards?
Sukumar won the Best Original Screenplay award for 'Pushpa 2' at the 72nd National Film Awards.
What award did 'Lucky Baskhar' win at the National Film Awards?
'Lucky Baskhar' won the Best Dialogue Writer award, with the honour going to Venky Atluri at the 72nd National Film Awards.
Why did G. Kishan Reddy congratulate Telugu cinema?
As Union Minister and BJP Telangana state president, G. Kishan Reddy congratulated the Telugu film fraternity following their multiple wins across categories at the 72nd National Film Awards, calling the honours a testament to the industry's creativity and dedication.
Who won Best Child Artist at the 72nd National Film Awards?
Arundev Pothula was recognised as the Best Child Artist at the 72nd National Film Awards, as mentioned by Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy in his congratulatory post.
