Thiladaanam
| Thilaadanam | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | K. N. T. Sastry |
| Written by | Rentala Nageswara Rao (dialogues) |
| Screenplay by | K. N. T. Sastry |
| Story by | Rentala Nageswara Rao |
| Produced by | P. Parameswaran |
| Starring | H. G. Dattatreya Brahmaji Tanikella Bharani Jaya Seal |
| Cinematography | Sunny Joseph |
| Edited by | A. Sreekar Prasad |
| Music by | L. Vaidyanathan |
Production company | |
Release date |
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Running time | 1 hr 29 min |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Thiladaanam (English title: The Rite... A Passion) is a 2000 Indian Telugu-language drama film, written and directed by film-critic K. N. T. Sastry in his debut directorial, based on a story by Rentala Nageswara Rao. The film features H. G. Dattatreya, Brahmaji, Tanikella Bharani, and Jaya Seal in pivotal roles.
Upon release, the film received positive reviews and won the Best First Film of a Director award at the 49th National Film Awards. The citation praised the film "for its juxtaposition of two diverse ideologies existing within the same family—the father's belief in his religion and traditions and his son's revolutionary ideology. The film strikes a very fine balance in inter-generational explorations." Thiladaanam is the only Indian film to be honoured with the New Currents Award at the 7th Busan International Film Festival. It was also featured in the Indian Panorama section at the 33rd International Film Festival of India, and in a Retrospective at the New York Indian Film Festival.