As many as 72 entries for Nandi Awards were received this year, of which 41 are feature films, three national integration films, five children’s films, eight documentaries, six on education, three for film criticism and six for textbooks on films.
Disclosing this at the first meeting with members of the newly-appointment jury of the AP State Nandi Flim Awards Committee-2011 here on Thursday, AP State Film & TV Development Corporation managing director RV Chandravadan said that this year a lot of changes had made in the norms for entries and eminent people representing all sectors had been nominated as jury members.
Stating that Nandi Awards had been being being presented since 1964 with an objective to promote the integrity and unity of the nation, Chandravadan requested the committee chairman to fix up a time-frame for the screening schedule and complete the process by the end of September.
He also requested the jury members to do justice in selection on merit and keep their opinions confidential.
He asked them to suggest any changes required to the existing rules and regulations, prize money, etc.
Nandi Theatre Awards: Government amends norms for entries
Committee chairman Gopal Reddy, members Ampasayya Naveen, K Anandan, Basi Reddy, Gopini Karunakar, Manmohan Reddy, Mohan Goteti, VR Rasani, Balabhadrapatruni Ramani, Duvvuri Shailendra Kumari and Allani Sridhar were presentThe state government had made changes to the rules and regulations concerning the annual Nandi awards for theatre.
As per the government orders issued making amendments to the exiting regulations, Nataka Samajams should now submit scripts in Telugu (DTP printing with spiral binding) along with the entry form with the signatures of the storywriter and organiser of the Nataka Samajam.
Once the script is submitted, the Nataka Samajam should not change the story or roles at the time of performance before the scrutiny panel.
A committee will be constituted with four eminent theatre personalities for scrutiny of scripts in four categories _ Padya Natakam (verse play), Social Play, Social Playlet and Children’s Social Playlet _ and selection of better scripts for consideration for Nandi Theatre Awards.
Each member of the committee will be paid a remuneration of Rs 5,000.
The decision of the corporation is final in selecting and rejecting scripts. Further, the registration fee paid will not be refunded and no further correspondence will be entertained in the matter.
In case of Padya Natakam, the Nataka Samajams will be permitted to give their script for scrutiny not more than three times, whether selected for final competition or not.
Once a Padya Natakam gets the best production award (first, second or third), that Nataka Samajam shall not submit the same play again for entry in future.
Nataka Samajams are expected to submit the scripts interlaced with social issues like family welfare, AIDS, child labour, environmental protection including green revolution, empowerment of women, national integration, communal harmony, girl child, Dalit empowerment, child marriages, civic sense, school dropouts, ethics and family values, social access -equity and justice etc.
In case of NTR Rangasthala Puraskaram selection procedure, the selection of panel will comprise persons from other walks of life relevant to the theatre and at the same time giving due preference to NTR Rangasthala Puraskaram winners.
However, the government shall relax the requirements depending on circumstances and requirements.
Further, it was decided to have the scrutiny and final presentation as per fixed schedule, persons with no theatre experience will not be appointed to the scrutiny panel or as final jury members.
Once appointed, that person can only be appointed after a lapse of five years from the last appointment and preference will be given to Telugu theatre personalities and Nandi award winners.
A person having not less than 10 years of relevant experience in Telugu theatre will be considered as member of the scrutiny panel.