Indian comics took centre stage at the FICCI FRAMES Best Animated Frames (BAF) Awards 2026, held at the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai.
Indian comics took centre stage at the FICCI FRAMES Best Animated Frames (BAF) Awards 2026, held at the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai during the two-day FICCI FRAMES event on September 29–30. Celebrating excellence across animation, visual effects, gaming and emerging creative technologies, the awards also recognised outstanding achievements in comic book storytelling, writing, illustration, colouring and cover design.
The recognition brought together established publishers, independent creators and emerging artistic voices, reflecting the diversity and creative ambition of India's evolving comics landscape.
The celebrations also featured a devotional performance by Bundelkhandi singer Suneel Lodhi, known for the popular Hanuman Ansh. His rendition of Maine Tere Hi Bharose Hanuman, alongside other bhajans, added a musical dimension to the occasion.
FICCI FRAMES BAF Awards 2026: The Comics Winners
Five categories celebrated the work of comic book creators and publishers, recognising both narrative achievement and visual craftsmanship.
Best Comics / Graphic Novel — Winner: Technicolour Lovers: Reel 1 – Aaranya Kaandam, Black Sheep. Runner-up: Vichitra Puraan 01, Chitragaatha.
Best Comics Writer — Winner: Bhagavad Gita: Song of the Divine, Reena I. Puri, Amar Chitra Katha. Runner-up: Parshuram – Vol. 2: Blessings of Shashtra, Arnav Anand, Vrindkavi.
Best Comics Artist — Winner: Gange, Caio Pegado, Curious Bit Publication. Runner-up: Technicolour Lovers: Reel 1, Utsab Chatterjee, Black Sheep.
Best Comics Colourist — Winner: Vichitra Puraan 01, Ujjwal Bhargav and Harendar Singh Saini, Chitragaatha. Runner-up: Gange, Valeria Verdi, Curious Bit Publication.
Best Comics / Graphic Novel Cover — Winner: Parshuram – Vol. 2: Blessings of Shashtra, Vrindkavi. Runner-up: Vichitra Puraan 01, Chitragaatha.
The results highlighted the breadth of contemporary Indian comics. From mythological narratives and culturally rooted storytelling to distinctive illustration and experimental visual approaches, the recognised works demonstrated the many directions in which the medium continues to develop.
Technicolour Lovers emerged as a notable title, winning Best Comics while also receiving runner-up recognition in the artist category. Vichitra Puraan 01 secured the Best Colourist award alongside runner-up positions for Best Comics and Best Cover, reflecting recognition across multiple aspects of its production. Vrindkavi's Parshuram – Vol. 2: Blessings of Shashtra took Best Comics / Graphic Novel Cover and was runner-up in the writing category for Arnav Anand.
Meanwhile, Amar Chitra Katha's Bhagavad Gita: Song of the Divine received the writing award, demonstrating the continuing relevance of Indian literary and cultural narratives within the comics medium.
Indian Comics Association Marks Its Presence at FICCI FRAMES
The Indian Comics Association (ICA) was represented at the event by its President, Ajitesh Sharma; Vice President, Vasu Gupta; Secretary, Anadi Abhilash; and Savio Mascarenhas, Senior Artist at Amar Chitra Katha.
Their presence reflected the Association's efforts to bring together publishers, creators and industry professionals under a shared vision for the growth of Indian comics.
The ICA has been working towards strengthening the country's comics ecosystem by encouraging collaboration, promoting original intellectual properties and advocating greater industry recognition for the medium.
Events such as the BAF Awards provide opportunities for creators and publishers to engage with the wider entertainment and creative industries, placing comics alongside animation, gaming and other forms of visual storytelling.
Recognising the Jury and Industry Leadership
The Indian Comics Association expressed its appreciation to the jury members whose expertise and contributions helped shape the 2026 awards.
The distinguished panel included Cartic P of Juego Studios, Kuldeep Singh of Thoughtworks, Mukesh Dev of Banzan Studios, Megha Tata, Niraj Ruparel of WPP, Nishith Takia of IDC School of Design at IIT Bombay, Priyadarshi Khastgir of Talespun Studios, Ron Marz of Blizzard Entertainment, Rupali Gatti, Salil Deshpande, Sanjiv Waeerkar of Ice Candy, Swati Agarwal of IDC School of Design at IIT Bombay, and Yunus Bukhari, CEO of K Sera Sera Limited.
The Association also acknowledged Ashish Kulkarni for his continued contributions towards strengthening India's Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) ecosystem and supporting the development of platforms such as FICCI FRAMES.
A Growing Platform for Indian Comics
For an industry shaped by generations of storytellers, illustrators and publishers, recognition at platforms such as the FICCI BAF Awards carries significance beyond individual trophies.
Indian comics have long drawn inspiration from mythology, folklore, history and popular culture. Today, creators are also experimenting with new genres, contemporary themes, independent publishing and distinctive forms of visual storytelling.
The range of recognised titles at this year's awards illustrates that creative diversity. Established names such as Amar Chitra Katha share the spotlight with newer publishers and independent creative teams, each contributing to the medium in different ways.
The growing participation of comics within larger entertainment industry platforms also presents opportunities for collaboration, adaptation and the development of original Indian intellectual properties.
For the Indian Comics Association, the focus remains on supporting creators, connecting publishers, encouraging industry cooperation and improving the visibility of Indian comics both domestically and internationally.
As the Indian comics community continues to evolve, the FICCI FRAMES BAF Awards 2026 serve as another reminder of the talent already working within the industry and the possibilities that lie ahead.
For Indian comics, the recognition is not simply a celebration of what has been achieved, but an opportunity to build towards what comes next.
