The Gollapudi Srinivas national award for the best debut film goes to C Prem Kumar for the film 96. The film was selected from among 10 nominations in various languages from all over the country. The award comprises a cash prize of Rs 1.50 lakh and a memento to be presented at a ceremony to be held on 12 August.
The movie 96 is about school mates who meet at a reunion that rekindles memories. Prem Kumar made his directorial debut last year with 96, which he also wrote and in which Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha starred in lead roles. The Gollapudi award was established in 1998 in hour of young director Gollapudi Srinivas who passed away in an accident during the shoot of his maiden venture in 1992.