Kolkata: Malayalam cinema made a strong impression at the 11th Durgapur International Film Festival (DIFF) 2026, with ‘Swalih’ emerging as one of the films to watch after securing two prestigious honours at the festival.
Directed by Siddik Paravoor and produced by Shaju Valappan, Swalih was awarded Best Feature Film – Critics Choice and Best Story & Screenplay, recognising both its cinematic execution and its narrative strength.
Presented under the banner of Valappan Creations, the film takes a human-centric approach to contemporary social realities. Its narrative explores compassion, dignity, faith, coexistence and the emotional complexities of everyday life, creating a story that aims to connect with audiences beyond linguistic and cultural boundaries.
The film was officially selected for DIFF 2026 and screened at Nandan – 3, Kolkata, on August 23. The screening brought the Malayalam feature to an audience comprising cinema enthusiasts, filmmakers, media professionals and festival delegates.
The twin awards have given Swalih an added boost on its festival journey. The Best Story & Screenplay recognition particularly highlights the film’s writing, while the Critics Choice for Best Feature Film underlines the overall impact of the production.
Producer Shaju Valappan, who represented the film at the festival, expressed his gratitude for the recognition and emphasised the power of cinema to build connections across languages, cultures and geographical boundaries.
Director Siddik Paravoor also acknowledged the festival’s appreciation and credited the film’s cast and crew for their dedication in bringing the story to life.With two awards at DIFF 2026, Swalih has certainly added a memorable chapter to its festival journey, strengthening the visibility of Malayalam independent cinema on a wider platform.
#24x7indialivenews#malayalamfilm#durgapurinternationalfilmfestival#FilmFestival#nandan_kolkata
@24x7indilivenews @bejdigital
