Netflix’s original productions have made a mark at this year’s prestigious Asian Academy Creative Awards, securing a total of 14 nominations. These titles will represent India as they vie for top honors at the Grand Awards across the APAC region, set to take place in December 2024. Among the standout contenders is the docuseries The Hunt for Veerappan, which has received nominations for Best Direction (Non-Fiction), Best Cinematography (Non-Fiction), Best Documentary, and Best Theme Song.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar on Netflix also received significant recognition. Manisha Koirala is nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role, while the series is in the running for Best Cinematography (Fiction) and Best VFX.
In addition, Kay Kay Menon is competing for Best Actor in a Leading Role for The Railway Men, with Aayush Gupta receiving a nod for Best Screenplay. In the children’s programming category, Mighty Bheem’s Playtime – Class Picnic has been nominated for Best Children’s Programme.
Filmmaker Ali expressed his excitement about the nominations, particularly for Amar Singh Chamkila, which has been recognized for Best Direction, Best Editing, Best Sound, and Best Feature Film. “It’s a special film, and being recognized by the Asian Academy Creative Awards is a moment of pride for me and the entire team,” said Ali. He also acknowledged the support of Netflix in bringing the project to life.
Meanwhile, Barzakh, a fantasy drama by Zindagi Originals, directed and written by Asim Abbasi, was named the national winner and has been nominated for Best Drama Series. This unique tale, set in the picturesque Hunza Valley, follows a 76-year-old man who shocks his estranged family by announcing his engagement to the ghost of his first love. The show explores themes of love, loss, and complex family dynamics and will compete against entries from 13 other countries at the grand finale.
Several other Indian shows, including Heeramandi, The Railway Men, and Panchayat, have also earned nominations, highlighting India’s growing presence in the creative landscape.
Below is the list of Netflix’s India National Wins [Nominations]:
- Best Documentary Series: The Hunt For Veerappan
- Best Feature Film: Amar Singh Chamkila
- Best Direction (Fiction): Amar Singh Chamkila Imtiaz Ali
- Best Direction (Non-Fiction): The Hunt For Veerappan – Selvamani Selvaraj
- Best Actress In A Leading Role: Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar- Manisha Koirala
- Best Actor In A Leading Role: The Railway Men – Kay Kay Menon
- Best Cinematography (Non-Fiction): The Hunt For Veerappan – Udit Khurana
- Best Theme Song: The Hunt For Veerappan – Poda by Jhanu Chanthar
- Best Screenplay: The Railway Men – Aayush Gupta
- BEST Editing: Amar Singh Chamkila – Aarti Bajaj
- Best Sound Amar Singh Chamkila – Dhiman Karmakar
- Best Cinematography (Fiction) Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar – Sudeep Chatterjee, Mahesh Limaye, Huenstang Mohpatra
- Best Visual or Special Effects (TV or Feature FIlm) Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar – FutureWorks
- Best Children’s Programme: Mighty Bheem’s Playtime – Class Picnic
