The 72nd National Film Awards, which recognised films certified by the CBFC between January 1 and December 31, 2024, brought cheers to the Telugu film industry as they bagged nine awards.Director Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD was adjudged the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. The film, which narrates a story inspired by the Mahabharata in a dystopian science fiction setting, travelled between three worlds: Kasi as the last surviving city, Shambala that awaits the birth of Kalki, and a futuristic city called the Complex. Production designer Nitin Zihani Choudhary, who designed the three distinct worlds with attention to detail, bagged the award for Best Production Design. The sequel to this film is under production, starring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan.Allu Arjun in Pushpa 2: The RulePushpa 2: The Rule, which was the highest-grossing Telugu film of 2024, won its director, B Sukumar, the National Award for Best Original Screenplay. A highlight of this film was Allu Arjun sporting the androgynous look in the Gangamma jatara sequence, resonating with the cultural authenticity of the region’s festivities. The film’s costume designers Deepali Noor and Sheetal Sharma have won the award for Best Costume Design.