Malavazhi, directed by Boban Govindan, has won top honours at the 7th Mumba International Film Festival. It shared the spotlight with the film Halgi.
Malavazhi was named Best Film from 958 entries, reports said. The film has reportedly won 56 awards from more than 40 festivals.
The festival ran from October 6 to 10, 2026. Screenings were held at the National Film Archive of India (NFAI) in Pune.
About the festival
The festival is organised by the Mumba Film Foundation. Its awards night was held at the NFAI auditorium on Prabhat Road.
The name is Mumba, not Mumbai. Some Malayalam reports called it the Mumbai International Film Festival.
The festival is supported by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, NFDC and FTII.
The NFAI, on Prabhat Road, is India's national film archive. Holding the festival there gives it a direct link to the country's film heritage.
Why it matters
Malavazhi is a small independent film. Festival wins are how such films find distributors and screens.
A long festival run can make a theatrical or streaming deal easier.
It also brings a Malayalam film to a national stage in Pune.
Key details
Film: Malavazhi
Director: Boban Govindan
Banner: Lee Gold Films
Festival: 7th Mumba International Film Festival, Pune
Dates: October 6 to 10, 2026
Lead: Devadas, a theatre artist from Mumbai, as Manikyan
Cast and crew
Devadas plays the lead role of Manikyan. Guru Somasundaram, I.M. Vijayan, Sundar Pandian, Siji Pradeep and Shanthakumari are also in the cast.
Madhu Ambatt handles the cinematography. Rajesh Kurumali has written the screenplay.
The film is yet to get a theatrical release date.
More Malayalam films on the festival circuit
Small Malayalam films often build a reputation abroad and in other states before they reach home theatres. Malavazhi is following that route.
For more on new Malayalam projects, see Jeo Baby's next film, Human and Ranjan Pramod's Night Shows.
