Critics’ Choice Awards 2025: Celebrating Cinematic Excellence
The Critics’ Choice Awards 2025, organized by the Film Critics Guild and GroupM Motion Entertainment in partnership with Vistas Media Capital, recently took place, honoring the finest achievements in Indian cinema. The event, supported by streaming partner Sony Liv, recognized exceptional talent across feature films, short films, documentaries, and web series. This year’s awards highlighted the diversity of voices within the industry, showcasing works from various languages and regions.
Major Winners of the Night
This year’s Critics’ Choice Awards saw All We Imagine As Light clinch the prestigious Best Feature Film award, celebrated for its compelling narrative and artistic vision. Diljit Dosanjh was awarded Best Actor for his role in Amar Singh Chamkila, while Darshana Rajendran received the Best Actress award for her performance in Paradise. The Best Supporting Actor accolade went to Ravi Kishan for his role in Laapataa Ladies, and Kani Kusruti was recognized as Best Supporting Actress for her work in Girls Will Be Girls.
In the web series category, Poacher emerged as a standout, winning Best Web Series and earning multiple awards, including Best Actress for Nimisha Sajayan and Best Actor for Barun Sobti in Raat Jawaan Hai. The short film category was dominated by Obur, which won Best Short Film, along with accolades for Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress, showcasing the depth of talent in this segment.
New Categories and Special Recognitions
This year, the Critics’ Choice Awards introduced a new category for Best Documentary, which was awarded to Nocturnes for its impactful storytelling. The ceremony also honored the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) with the Extraordinary Contribution to Cinema Award, acknowledging their vital role in advocating for gender equality and safer work environments in the Malayalam film industry. This recognition underscores the awards’ commitment to celebrating voices that foster meaningful change in cinema.
The awards were curated by a distinguished jury from the Film Critics Guild, ensuring that the most exceptional works in Indian cinema received recognition. The event highlighted the importance of film criticism in fostering a vibrant cultural dialogue within the industry.
Acceptance Speeches and Reflections
During the ceremony, winners expressed their gratitude and reflections on their achievements. Diljit Dosanjh, upon receiving the Best Actor award, dedicated it to the film’s creator, Imtiaz Ali, and the entire cast and crew. Payal Kapadia, awarded Best Director for All We Imagine As Light, shared her appreciation for the support from critics and fellow filmmakers. Richie Mehta, who won Best Director and Best Series for Poacher, emphasized the love and passion that went into creating the series, which honors the guardians of nature.
Nimisha Sajayan expressed her gratitude for the recognition, stating that her role in Poacher transformed her both as an artist and a person. Jyoti Dogra, awarded Best Actress in a Short Film for Taak, highlighted the importance of a robust critics community in fostering inclusive storytelling. Dibyendu Bhattacharya, recognized as Best Supporting Actor in a Series for Poacher, noted that such awards validate the hard work of artists in the industry.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Indian Cinema
As the Critics’ Choice Awards continue to evolve, they remain a vital platform for recognizing and celebrating the diverse narratives within Indian cinema. Sucharita Tyagi, Vice Chairperson of the Film Critics Guild, emphasized the importance of film criticism in nurturing cultural conversations. Ashwin Padmanabhan, COO of GroupM South Asia, reiterated the commitment to inclusive storytelling that champions diverse voices in the industry.
With the 2025 awards setting a high benchmark for excellence, the future of Indian cinema looks promising, as it continues to captivate audiences and inspire new generations of filmmakers and storytellers.
Notable Winners for the 7th Edition of Critics’ Choice Awards 2025
Short Film Category:
Best Short Film: Obur
Best Director: Faraz Ali for Obur
Best Actor: Harish Khanna for Jal Tu Jalaal Tu
Best Actress: Jyoti Dogra for Taak (Tracker)
Best Writing: Faraz Ali for Obur
Best Cinematography: Anand Bansal for Obur
Documentary Category:
Best Documentary: Nocturnes
Web Series Category:
Best Web Series: Poacher
Best Director: Richie Mehta for Poacher
Best Actor: Barun Sobti for Raat Jawaan Hai
Best Actress: Nimisha Sajayan for Poacher
Best Supporting Actor: Dibyendu Bhattacharya for Poacher
Best Supporting Actress: Kani Kusruti for Poacher
Best Writing: Richie Mehta, Gopan Chidambaran, Suprotim Sengupta, Amrita Bagchi for Poacher
Feature Film Category:
Best Film: All We Imagine As Light
Best Director: Payal Kapadia for All We Imagine As Light
Best Actor: Diljit Dosanjh for Amar Singh Chamkila
Best Actress: Darshana Rajendran for Paradise
Best Supporting Actor: Ravi Kishan for Laapataa Ladies
Best Supporting Actress: Kani Kusruti for Girls Will Be Girls
Best Writing: Anand Ekarshi for Aattam
Best Cinematography: Ranabir Das for All We Imagine As Light
Best Editing: Shivkumar V. Panicker for Kill
Gender Sensitivity Award: Girls Will Be Girls
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