Kodagu Filmmaker’s ‘Kandeelu’ Wins Best Kannada Film at National Awards
- Kodagu Express Bureau
- Sep 23
- 2 min read
New Delhi: At the 71st National Film Awards held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, on Tuesday, President Droupadi Murmu honoured Yeshodha Prakash Kottukathira and Kottukathira Prakash with the prestigious award for their Kannada film Kandeelu, which was adjudged the Best Kannada Feature Film.
The film, directed and produced by Yeshodha Prakash of Madikeri under the banner of Swasthik Entertainment, has already earned recognition at various festivals. Notably, Kandeelu was named the second-best Kannada film at the 15th Bengaluru International Film Festival.
Yeshodha, who hails from Madikeri and works as an Accounts Manager with a private veterinary pharmaceutical firm in Bengaluru, has balanced her professional career with filmmaking.
Released in 2023, Kandeelu – The Ray of Hope is a Kannada-language drama that portrays the struggles of a poor farmer, Seeba, and his family’s resilience in the face of grief and adversity. The story, penned by Nagesh N, reflects on issues of land grabbing and the socio-political hurdles confronting rural farmers. The cast includes Prabhakar Kunder, with music by Srisuresh and cinematography by PVR Swamy.
Though the film never made it to commercial theatres, it was widely appreciated on the festival circuit, having been screened at the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes), Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), and others. At BIFFes, it stood out as the second-best regional film.
In August 2025, Kandeelu was officially announced as the Best Kannada Feature Film at the National Awards, adding another milestone to Kodagu’s contribution to cinema.
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