The Nandi Awards (Telugu: నంది పురస్కారాలు) is the highest award ceremony for excellence in Telugu cinema, Telugu theatre, Telugu Television, and Lifetime achievements in Indian cinema, presented annually by the Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. "Nandi" means "bull", the award being named after the big granite bull at Lepakshi — a cultural and historical symbol of the Telugu people.Nandi Awards are presented in four categories: Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Copper. A variant, the Nandi Natakotsavam Awards for Theater, is also given every year by the government for social, mythological and poetic dramas.