The Bharatamuni Film Awards

Are we slightly ahead of the times or are they slightly behind them? That's something that you wonder as you look at the winners of the film awards happening recently. The A P Cine Goers' Association and the Bharatamuni Arts Academy both seem to be honoring films of two years back. Samarasimha Reddy, Bharat Ratna… it's the same at all places. Maybe they are getting influenced by the movies themselves, which are pretty much behind the times and stagnant in themes and approach.

The Bharathamuni Arts Academy has been having these awards for 13 years now. It's been at Sri Kalahasti, where the academy is based, until 2 years back, and this is the second year that the awards are being given in Hyderabad. The founder of the academy is Munikrishna Reddy, and he is part of a 4-member committee that decides the awards on the basis of the ballots cast by the 1000+ members of the academy. The chairman of the Committee is P V Naidu, Additional DGP. Film producer Ambika Krishna and P V Nageshwara Rao of Jana Chaithanya Housing Group are the other two members.

To be a member, one has to be a resident of Srikalahasti or Madanapalli, and pay a yearly subscription of Rs 365. Each month, the academy has a number of entertainment programs like dance, plays, concerts and mimicry shows. These members participate in a number of social service activities.

These are the awards: