Journalist Ch Sushil Rao's India's GreenHeart Dusharla Satyanarayana bags TIFF's Special Jury Award

HYDERABAD: Documentary filmmaker and senior journalist Chilkuri Sushil Rao's "India's GreenHeart Dusharla Satyanarayana" has won the Special Jury Award at the Telangana International Film Festival (TIFF) on December 15, 2022 at Prasad Labs preview theatre at Banjara Hills in Hyderabad.

Sushil Rao's "India's GreenHeart Dusharla Satyanarayana" and a 10-minute documentary about biodegradable carry bags that were developed at DRDO made by K Veera Brahmam were the only two films to get the Special Jury Award out of a 100 entries. Three other short films were selected for other awards.

The award was presented to Chilkuri Sushil Rao by noted lyricist Suddala Ashok Teja, TIFF Founder and Film Director Manjula Surooju, Telangana State Police Academy Deputy Director R Giridhar, IPS, Murali Dharmapuri of TIFF from Australia and other dignitaries.

"The award is a recognition for the selfless climate activist Dusharla Satyanarayana. The choice of the jury in selecting the film only shows the importance that they have accorded to the idea of preserving nature and environment," said Sushil Rao.

"India's GreenHeart Dusharla Satyanarayana" was a film about 69-year-old Dusharla Satyanarayana, who created a forest on his 70-acre ancestral land at Raghavapuram near Suryapet town. He started developing the forest more than six decades ago which was preserved till date.

A book titled "Nenu Adavini Matladuthunna" (This is Me, the forest speaking) authored by Suddala Ashok Teja was presented to Chilkuri Sushil Rao on the occasion.

The short film "Pullaiss" (ice fruit with a stick) directed by Shivani Naidu was awarded Best Short Film. The film was about a mentally challenged widowed mother and her son and their everyday life.