Kantara: Chapter 1 Leads Nominations at 7th Chandanavana Film Critics Academy Awards

BENGALURU: The nominations for the 7th Chandanavana Film Critics Academy Awards 2026, presented by Amberstone Properties, were officially announced along with the unveiling of the trophy at a special event held in Bengaluru on Sunday, March 15.

The trophy unveiling ceremony witnessed the presence of noted filmmaker Nagathihalli Chandrashekar, filmmaker K M Chaitanya, actress Pooja Gandhi and actor Srinagar Kitty. Representatives from the title sponsor Amberstone Properties, including EVP Sales Head, Sunil, Marketing Head, Anoop and Marketing General Manager, Shwetha H G, were also present at the event. The event is co-sponsored by Ashwasurya Realities. During the occasion, senior film PRO Vijay Kumar was honoured in recognition of his long-standing contribution to the Kannada film industry.

Speaking at the event, Nagathihalli Chandrashekar said that awards presented by film critics carry significant credibility and prestige within the industry. Actor Srinagar Kitty appreciated the efforts of the Chandanavana Film Critics Academy in consistently recognising quality cinema. Actress Pooja Gandhi noted that the academy has been doing commendable work for the past seven years and that the selection of nominations itself reflects the seriousness of the awards.

Kantara: Chapter 1 Tops the Nominations

Among the films, Kantara: Chapter 1 emerged as the most nominated film this year, earning multiple nominations across major categories including Best Actor, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Music, Best Screenplay, Best Dialogues and Best Film.

Other films that received significant nominations include Eḷumale, Mithya, Su From So, Hebbuli Cut, Brat, and Maadeva.

Chandanavana Film Critics Academy Awards 2026 – Nominations

Best Debut Producer (Puneeth Rajkumar Award)

Adarsh Ayyangar – Thimmana Mottegallu
Nagesh Gopal – Nodidavaru Enanthare
Nivedita Shivarajkumar – Firefly
Deepak Thimmappa – Gata Vaibhava
CR Bobby / Ajaneesh Loknath – Just Married

Best Debut Director (Shankar Nag Award)

Dheeraj MV – Kapata Nataka Sutradari
Amol Patil – Udaala
Vinayaka N– Full Meals
Bheemrao P – Hebbuli Cut
Sumanth Bhat – Mithya

Best Debut Writer (Chi. Udayashankar Award)

JP Tuminad – Su From So
Sumanth Bhat – Mithya
Dheeraj MV – Kapata Nataka Sutradhari
Kuldeep Kariyappa – Nodidavaru Enanthare
Bheemrao P – Hebbuli Cut

Best Debut Actor in Leading Role (Sanchari Vijay Award)

Dushyant – Gata Vaibhava
Dr. Leela Mohan – Naayi Ide Eccharike
Kireeti – Junior
Vamshi Krishna – Firefly
Chandan Shetty – Sutradhari

Best Debut Actress in Leading Role (Tripuramba Award)

Manisha – Brat
Priyanka Achar – Elumale
Rashika Shetty – Manada Kadalu
Rachana Rai – The Devil
Mouna Guddemane – Kuladalli Keelyavudo

Best Child Artist

Atheesh Shetty – Mithya
Jagadeesh Koppala – Puppy
Aditya Sindhanur – Puppy
Harsha – Thimmana Mottegallu
Sukruth – GST

Best VFX

Monsters Aliens Robots Zombies Studio – 45 The Movie
KV Sanjit – Kantara: Chapter 1
Nirmal Kumar – Gata Vaibhava
Trayom Studios – The Devil
Harshit Kulai – Choo Manthar

Best Art Direction

Shivakumar J – Mark
Dharani Gangaputra – Kantara: Chapter 1
Mohan Pandit – 45 The Movie
Avinash Kolla – Junior
Prabhu Badiger – Veera Chandrahassa

Best Stunt Choreography

Ram Lakshman – The Devil
Arjun Raj – Kantara: Chapter 1
Ravi Varma – Mark
Chetan D’Souza – 45 The Movie
Vinod – Elumale

Best Dance Choreography

Revanth Gollamandala – Junior (Viral Vaiyaari)
Murali Master – Ekka (Bangle Bangari)
Shobi Paulraj – Mark (Mast Mallaika)
Vinayak Acharya – Su From So (Danks Anthem)
Yashwanth Master – Brat (Gangi Gangi)

Best Editing

Shashank Narayan – Rippan Swamy
Suresh Mallayya – Kantara: Chapter 1
Ashik Kusugalli – Gata Vaibhava
KM Prakash – Elumale
Bharath MC – Agnatha Vaasi

Best Dialogues

Harish Gowda – Full Meals
JP Tuminad – Su From So
Bheemrao P – Hebbuli Cut
Rishab Shetty, Aniruddha Mahesh & Shanil Gowtham – Kantara: Chapter 1
Krishna Raj – Agnathavasi

Best Cinematography

Aravind S Kashyap – Kantara: Chapter 1
Abhilash Kalathi – Firefly
Shekar Chandra – Mark
Sathya Hegde – 45 The Movie
William David – Gata Vaibhava

Best Singer – Female

Chaitra J Achar – Su From So (Hennu)
Sanvi Sudeep – Mark (Mast Mallaika)
Indu Nagaraj – Brat (Gangi Gangi)
Mangli – Elumale (Kaapado Dyavare)
Sunidhi Ganesh – Gata Vaibhava (Varnamale)

Best Singer – Male

Abbi V – Kantara: Chapter 1 (Brahma Kalasha)
Mime Ramdas – Kantara: Chapter 1 (Rebel Song)
Sid Sriram – Brat (Naane Neenante)
Antony Dasan – Ekka (Bangle Bangari)
VM Mahalingam – Elumale (Title Track)

Best Lyrics

Shashiraj Kavoor – Kantara: Chapter 1 (Brahma Kalasha)
Nagarjun Sharma – Ekka (Bangle Bangari)
Simple Suni – Gata Vaibhava (Varnamale)
Yogaraj Bhat – Manada Kadalu (Hoo Dumbi)
Shashank – Brat (Naane Neenante)

Best Background Score (BGM)

Charan Raj – Ekka
Ajaneesh Loknath – Kantara: Chapter 1
D Imman – Elumale
Sandeep Tulsidas – Su From So
Arjun Janya – Brat

Best Music

Ajaneesh Loknath – Kantara: Chapter 1
Charan Raj – Ekka
Arjun Janya – Brat
Sumedh K – Su From So
D Imman – Elumale

Best Screenplay

Sumanth Bhat – Mithya
Rishab Shetty & Team – Kantara: Chapter 1
JP Tuminad – Su From So
Puneeth Rangaswamy – Elumale
Bheemrao & Ananth Shandrayya – Hebbuli Cut

Best Supporting Actress

Meghana Gaonkar – Choo Manthar
Archana Kottige – Forest
Shruti – Ekka
Shruti – Maadeva
Sandhya Arakere – Su From So

Best Supporting Actor

Raj B Shetty – Su From So
Kishore – Elumale
Gulshan Devaiah – Kantara: Chapter 1
Shanil Gowtham – Su From So
Mahanthesh Hiremath – Hebbuli Cut

Best Actress

Rukmini Vasanth – Kantara: Chapter 1
Anjali Anish – Manada Kadalu
Sonal Monteiro – Maadeva
Reshma L – Love You Muddu
Ashika Ranganath – Gata Vaibhava

Best Actor

Vinod Prabhakar – Madeva
Darling Krishna – Brat
Rishab Shetty – Kantara: Chapter 1
Darshan – The Devil
Sudeep – Mark

Best Director

Rishab Shetty – Kantara: Chapter 1
Puneeth Rangaswamy – Elumale
JP Tuminad – Su From So
Bheemrao – Hebbuli Cut
Sumanth Bhat – Mithya

Best Film

Elumale
Mithya
Kantara: Chapter 1
Hebbuli Cut
Maadeva