Date:14/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/14/stories/2008021454750600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Nandi film awards for Nagarjuna, Nandita

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: For his compelling portrayal of the title role in the movie ‘Sri Rama Dasu’, Nagarjuna won laurels as the best actor in the Nandi Film Awards list announced here on Wednesday. The best actress honour was won by Nandita Das for the movie ‘Kamli’ while ‘Bommarillu’ was adjudged as the best feature film.

Sekhar Kammula’s ‘Godavari’ won him the best director award apart from being adjudged as the second best feature film followed by Sekhar Yalamanchi’s ‘Ganga’ as the third best feature film. ‘Sri Rama Dasu’ won recognition as best home viewing feature film while Puri Jagannadh’s ‘Pokiri’ was adjudged the best popular feature film providing wholesome entertainment. ‘Bommarillu’ also had awards coming its way for Bhaskar (best first film of a director and best screenplay), Prakash Raj (best supporting actor), Abburi Ravi (best dialogue writer) apart from a special jury award for Genilia. The best supporting actress award went to Eswari (‘Ganga’), best character actor award to Kota Srinivasa Rao (‘Pellaina Kothalo’), Allu Ramalingaiah award for best comedian to Venu Madhav (‘Lakshmi’) and best comedian actress to Abhinaya Sri (‘Paisaalo Paramaathma’). Sai Kumar won the best villain award for the movie ‘Saamaanyudu’.

The awards announced by the jury chairman M.S.Reddy included best child actor award to Master Raghava (‘Style’) and best child actress to Baby Sri Divya (‘Bharathi’). For ‘Saamaanyudu’, Ravi C. Kumar was adjudged as the best story writer while the song ‘Vellipothunnavaa thallee…’ for ‘Ganga’ won Andesri the best lyric writer award and Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao award for best male playback singer award for Jesudas.

‘Godavari’ won the best cinematographer award for C. Vijay Kumar, for music to K.M. Radhakrishna and best female playback singer award to Sunitha (‘Andamgaa Lenaa...’).

The other Nandi award winners include Marthand K.Venkatesh (best editor for ‘Pokiri’), Ashok (best art director for ‘Powrnami’), and Raghava Lawrence (best choreographer for ‘Style’).