Pradeep's the unsung winner

While the rest of the Telugu film industry was busy crying foul about not winning a single National Award, director Pradeep Maadugula quietly walked away with the only National honour for AP with his short film, ���������Advaitham.���������
Winning in the category for Best Educational film, the 30-minute film produced by K Vijaypal Reddy on a budget of ` 5 lakhs was ���������unheard of��������� till the Awards were announced.
���������Since it���������s not a Tollywood film, no one talked about it. The movie, which is a motivational story about musicians from two different communities, was showcased at the Hyderabad Film Club and the Kerala Film Festival. No one helped me send the film to the National Awards Board, I sent it myself as an independent filmmaker,��������� says Pradeep, an associate film director in T-town, who is upset at the lack of recognition, despite the national accolade. ���������There is no awareness about short films. No one from the government has even called to congratulate me. I will have a special screening of my film in the city to reach out to the masses,��������� he adds.
With his artistic urges satisfied, Pradeep now plans to head the Tollywood way. ���������I���������m assisting ���������Prasthanam��������� director, Deva Katta in his next film with Naga Chaitanya. Then, I plan to make my own feature film that appeals to all,��������� he says.