This year’s Gaddar Awards have received widespread appreciation for their fairness and merit-based selections. Many observers feel that the awards this time resemble the way the prestigious Nandi Awards were once presented—recognizing genuine creative excellence rather than simply rewarding popularity.

Unlike many awards that are often driven by fan following or commercial success, this edition appears to have focused more on artistic quality and meaningful storytelling. The Best Actor award was presented to Naga Chaitanya for his performance in Thandel, while Rashmika Mandanna won Best Actress for The Girlfriend.

The Best Film award went to Raju Weds Rambai. Dandora received the Best Second Film honor, while The Pre-Wedding Show was named Best Third Film. In addition, Thandel also won the National Integrity Film Award, a decision that has largely been accepted without controversy.

In other categories, Little Hearts won Best Debut Feature Film, while Sankranthiki Vastunnam was recognized as the Best Entertaining Film. Court received the award for Best Social Message Film, and Mirai won Best Special Effects Film.

Special recognitions were also given, with Roshan receiving the Special Jury Hero Award for his performance in Champion. Overall, films like Champion, Raju Weds Rambai, and Mirai emerged as the biggest winners this year, securing multiple awards across key categories.

In previous years, the Gaddar Awards had sometimes faced criticism, with certain selections raising questions about transparency and the clarity of the judging process. However, the situation appears very different this time. Many feel that the awards have been presented in a much more transparent and well-organized manner.

The jury seems to have taken considerable care in evaluating the films and performances before announcing the winners. As a result, most selections appear balanced and widely acceptable, reinforcing the idea that the awards truly recognize deserving creative work rather than arbitrary choices.

This renewed credibility has helped restore confidence among film followers and industry observers, who now view the Gaddar Awards—presented by the Telangana Government—as a meaningful recognition of cinematic talent.