📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Press Information Department
Entertainment
Regional Films Dominate National Awards: 7 of 10 Best Feature Winners Non-Hindi
✍️ bhaskarenglish.in
🗓 26 Sep 2026, 09:47 AM
👁 12
The National Film Awards have seen a surge in regional cinema, with seven of the last ten Best Feature Film winners coming from non-Hindi language films.
The National Film Awards have highlighted a growing trend in Indian cinema: regional films are increasingly being recognized at the highest level. In the past decade, seven of the ten Best Feature Film winners have been produced in languages other than Hindi.
This shift reflects the expanding reach and artistic depth of cinema from states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Maharashtra, among others. The awards jury has cited the nuanced storytelling, cultural authenticity, and technical excellence of these films as key reasons for their selection.
Industry insiders say the trend signals a broader acceptance of diverse narratives across the country, encouraging filmmakers to explore local stories with universal appeal. The National Film Awards continue to serve as a platform that celebrates the rich tapestry of India’s cinematic landscape.
This shift reflects the expanding reach and artistic depth of cinema from states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Maharashtra, among others. The awards jury has cited the nuanced storytelling, cultural authenticity, and technical excellence of these films as key reasons for their selection.
Industry insiders say the trend signals a broader acceptance of diverse narratives across the country, encouraging filmmakers to explore local stories with universal appeal. The National Film Awards continue to serve as a platform that celebrates the rich tapestry of India’s cinematic landscape.