The Indian National Cine Academy (INCA) has announced nominations for its first INCA Awards, presented by Kalyan Jewellers. Celebrating filmmaking excellence in twelve Indian film industries—Gujarati, Assamese, Odia, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi—the awards span 25 categories.

Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress will be recognised in each language. The other 21 categories—including Best Production Design, Casting, Cinematography, Supporting Actor and Actress, Background Score, VFX, and Editor—will be awarded collectively.

Leading the nominations are Dhurandhar (17), Lokah Chapter One: Chandra (15), and Kantara: Chapter 1 (13).

The Assamese film Rudra, by Roopak Gogoi, stands out for earning 11 nominations and securing a place in the Top 10.

The final winners will be chosen by the respective industry bodies representing various Indian film industries. The awards ceremony is scheduled for April 16, 2026, in Mumbai, promising to bring together top filmmakers, actors and producers from across the country.

While the initiative, supported by the Producers Guild of India as Chief Patron, aims to determine nominees honestly, it has drawn criticism for its strict application process and the Rs 6,000 submission fee. These requirements raise concerns about whether the awards truly serve regional filmmakers or create barriers for them.

The initial submission fee discouraged Assamese producers from applying, raising doubts about fairness even after the fee was waived. The resulting nominations seem to favour those who paid, and entries like Sri Krishna Leela 2 spark debate over the selection process.

Additionally, presenting awards for technical and creative categories collectively, rather than by industry, further calls into question the awards' inclusivity and intent.

In another instance, the Indian National Cine Academy's social media mistakenly featured the wrong picture instead of Assamese actor Kula Kuldip, a nominee for Amardeep Gogoi’s Collage. Many fear this reflects a lack of genuine support for regional cinema.

Comparing recent trends reveals more concerns. In early 2026, the Filmfare Awards Assamese became embroiled in controversy in Assam’s film industry. Intended as a celebration of regional excellence, the event quickly turned contentious.

Filmmakers, actors, and jury members voiced serious concerns online about the awards’ transparency, fairness, and inclusivity.

Additional issues included last-minute announcements, missing categories, opaque jury processes, and films being overlooked.

Organisers of the INCA Awards are taking steps to learn from past missteps, but doubts remain among industry insiders. Award shows often seek profit via fees, sponsorships, and media rights, sometimes prioritising business interests over artistry and merit. This cycle benefits filmmakers, celebrities, and brands alike.

This prompts us to reconsider: should we celebrate awards that require a Rs 6,000 entry fee and potentially exploit Assamese cinema's quest for recognition, or should we critically assess who truly benefits from such visibility?

Beyond individual recognition, it is unclear whether these award shows genuinely contribute to Assam's film industry or simply exploit regional cinema to create an awards market.

The distinction between genuine exposure and exploitation is blurred, underscoring the need for filmmakers to exercise caution.

Assam's seven nominated films—Collage, Gulai Soor, Kuhipath, Malamal Boyyyz, Rudra, Sri Krishna Leela 2, and Gomon—were selected from over 20 releases in 2025. This underscores that such awards are driven as much by influence and optics as by the intent to celebrate cinema.

(DISCLAIMER: This article has been submitted by a reader who has requested to remain anonymous. The views and opinions expressed in this piece are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, beliefs, or editorial stance of The Story Mug)

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