Sukriti Veni Bandreddi, the 14-year-old daughter of acclaimed director Sukumar of "Pushpa" fame, has won the Best Child Artist award at the 71st National Film Awards for her debut performance in the Telugu film "Gandhi Tatha Chettu". The awards were announced on Friday, August 1st, in New Delhi.
"Gandhi Tatha Chettu," directed by Padmavathi Malladi, is a social drama set in a small Telangana village in the year 2000. The film revolves around Gandhi, a 13-year-old girl who is deeply influenced by her grandfather, Ramachandrayya, a staunch follower of Mahatma Gandhi's principles. Ramachandrayya shares a special bond with his granddaughter and is particularly attached to an ancient neem tree on his land, which symbolizes the village's history and their family's legacy.
The narrative takes a turn when Satish, representing an industrialist, arrives in the village to persuade the villagers to sell their land for a chemical factory. While many villagers succumb to economic pressures, Ramachandrayya refuses to sell his land because of the cherished tree. As Ramachandrayya ages and eventually passes away, he entrusts Gandhi with the responsibility of protecting the tree and upholding Gandhian ideals of truth, non-violence, and peaceful resistance. Sukriti Veni plays the role of Gandhi, embodying the character's warmth and honesty.
Sukriti's portrayal of the young protagonist has been widely praised for its maturity and emotional depth. Her performance has touched the hearts of audiences and critics alike. Mythri Movie Makers, the production house behind the film, celebrated Sukriti's win on social media, acknowledging her "splendid performance". Sukriti's mother, Tabitha Bandreddi, also expressed her pride, calling it her "most proud moment".
The film "Gandhi Tatha Chettu" was released theatrically on January 24, 2025. It is produced by Naveen Yerneni, Ravi Shankar, and Sesha Sindu Rao under the banners of Mythri Movie Makers, Sukumar Writings, and Gopi Talkies. The film has garnered attention for its authentic storytelling and its themes of peace, positivity, and Gandhian ideals. It has also been featured and won awards at several national and international film festivals. It is currently available for streaming on OTT platforms like Amazon Prime Video and ETV Win.
This win is particularly special for Sukumar, whose "Pushpa" star, Allu Arjun, won the Best Actor award at the National Film Awards last year. Sukriti's achievement marks a promising start to her acting career. In an earlier interview, Sukriti mentioned her interest in acting in "Pushpa 2," but her father insisted she audition for the role. Sukumar has expressed his amazement at his daughter's talent and praised her performance in "Gandhi Tatha Chettu".
The 71st National Film Awards also recognized other talents from the Telugu film industry. Kasarla Shyam won the Best Lyricist award for the song 'Ooru Palletooru' from the film "Balagam", and P.V.N.S. Rohit won the Best Male Playback Singer award for the song 'Premisthunna' from the film "Baby". "Bhagavanth Kesari," directed by Anil Ravipudi and starring Balakrishna, won the Best Regional Film (Telugu) award.
