“I Really Wish The Award Should Have Gone to My Director Instead of Me, Dhandoraa’s Powerful Writing Will Br ing Many More Awards,” Says Sivaji at the Dhandoraa’s Thank You Meet

The team of Dhandoraa came together for a heartfelt Thank You Meet after the film earned three honours at the Telangana Gaddar Film Awards, further strengthening its reputation as a contentful blockbuster. The gathering turned emotional as the cast and crew reflected on the journey of the film - from its making to the overwhelming recognition it received from audiences, officials, and the media.

Speeches Playlist ▶️ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv8tne3UD07OOgqqZba2D0eAmCNY5TgEK&si=n2R-ioKb6Tz6ebIk

Director Muralikanth Devasoth thanked the Telangana Government and the jury for encouraging meaningful cinema. “Thanks to everyone for attending this event. I’m glad that my film has earned this recognition, and I would like to thank the jury and the Government of Telangana. By creating such a platform, you are boosting the right motivation,” he said, admitting that speaking about the film now felt deeply emotional. Recalling the creative process, he spoke warmly about music director Mark K Robin, saying they spent many sleepless nights composing. “He used to pour tea for me and we would continue composing sessions. This award has given him the right recognition for our very own Hyderabad talent,” he said.

Muralikanth Devasoth also reserved special praise for Sivaji, calling him the backbone of the film’s production. “For me he is the best actor, there is no two ways about it. Completing this film in such a short span was possible only because of him. He never demanded anything and was extremely cooperative,” he noted. The director also shared how the film’s subject resonated strongly with people across Telangana. “Some people told me that in their community there are around 1,000 to 2,000 members, yet they only have three to five cents of land for cremation. They thanked us for making a film on this issue because it makes them feel represented. That is the biggest award I could receive,” he said, adding that he was overwhelmed by the response from audiences and officials who promoted the film on social media.

Actor Bhaskar expressed happiness that the film brought such recognition to a debut director. “Needless to say, the film has earned three awards, and what more could a debut director ask for than this?” he said, also appreciating Sivaji’s support during their scenes together. “These awards and encouragement are very important for good films and actors,” he added.

Actor Rajasekhar said the recognition matched what the team had believed from the beginning. “Although it received the Second Best Feature Film award, we are happy for it - of course, we wished for the first,” he said, noting that positive media coverage and a tweet from Jr. NTR helped the film reach a much wider audience. He also credited Mark K Robin’s score for elevating the emotional intensity of the story.

Actor Suresh described the moment as a proud one for the entire team. Thanking Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, and the jury, he said the recognition was especially meaningful as a state honour. “Everyone says such stories usually come from other languages, but now one such story has come from Telugu and even bagged an award,” he remarked.

Actor Poorna shared that the film had given him a memorable character. “Even though every film is special, this one is even more special because people are recognizing me through the character from this film,” he said while congratulating the entire team.

For costume designer Rekha, the recognition felt almost inevitable from the moment she heard the story. “The belief I had when I first listened to the narration has been rewarded today,” she said, recalling how listening to the title song composed by Mark K Robin moved her to tears. She also praised Sivaji’s performance and described the award as a result of the honesty with which the film was made.

Actress Manika Chikkala said she felt fortunate to have played a role that connected strongly with audiences. “When I was returning from my grandparents’ village, everyone recognized me as the daughter of Sivaji from the film,” she said, adding that the experience was deeply gratifying.

Music director Mark K Robin thanked the media for supporting the film from the start and expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka for the recognition. Reflecting on the award being named after the legendary Gaddar, he said, “I’ve grown up listening to Gaddar anna’s songs. They are not just songs - they are fire that shook the whole of Telangana. Receiving an award in his name is a great honour.” He also thanked producer Benny Muppaneni for trusting him and recalled how emotional the experience was when Muralikanth Devasoth first narrated the story.

Actor Sivaji, whose performance earned one of the awards, spoke with humility and deep admiration for the director. “I strongly wish the award could have been given to the director instead of me,” he said. Thanking Jr. NTR for boosting the film through his tweet, Sivaji emphasized that the award belonged to the entire team. “This award is for every technician who worked on this film,” he said, praising cinematographer Venkat R. Shakamuri and editor Srujana Adusumilli for their work.

Sivaji also revealed the dedication behind his performance. “I never had a full sleep during the entire shoot of this film, because the character needed that tired, worn-out look,” he shared. Calling the film a showcase of acting talent, he added, “This film is like a library of terrific acting. Some of the finest actors in this country are Telugu actors.” Confident about the film’s future recognition, he said the strength of its writing would ensure it continued winning more awards.

Producer Benny Muppaneni concluded the event by thanking the Telangana Government, the jury, and the entire team for their efforts. “This film is truly a teamwork movie,” he said, also acknowledging the support he received from the press and fellow producers Sahu and Naga Vamsi.

Actor Nandu echoed the sentiment, congratulating the award winners and highlighting the contributions of the technicians. He also suggested that the Telangana Gaddar Film Awards consider introducing a Best Producer category. “It takes more than guts to produce films like these,” he said, adding that the recognition for Mark K Robin was especially satisfying as the composer had long been underrated.

With its powerful subject, rooted storytelling, and emotionally charged performances, Dhandoraa has steadily grown into one of the most talked-about socially driven Telugu films in recent times. The film created strong conversations during its theatrical run and further expanded its reach after streaming on Amazon Prime Video, drawing appreciation from audiences, officials, and industry figures alike. Backed by producer Benny Muppaneni and directed by Muralikanth Devasoth, the film features performances by Sivaji, Nandu, Manika Chikkala, Bindu Madhavi, Rajasekhar, Suresh, Bhaskar, and Poorna, with music composed by Mark K Robin, cinematography by Venkat R. Shakamuri, editing by Srujana Adusumilli, and costumes designed by Rekha. With its recent honours at the Telangana Gaddar Film Awards adding another milestone to its journey, Dhandoraa continues to gain momentum as a film that blended meaningful storytelling with lasting impact.