56th IFFI Crowns ‘Bandish Bandits Season 02’ as Best Web Series (OTT)
Jury Praises the Series for its Story that Makes Arts and Music Accessible to All
The honour reflects IFFI’s commitment to nurturing innovation in India’s rapidly growing OTT ecosystem
#IFFIWood, 28 November 2025
In a resounding celebration of India’s flourishing digital storytelling landscape, ‘Bandish Bandits Season 02’ has been declared the Best Web Series (OTT) at the 56th International Film Festival of India 2025. Directed by Anand Tiwari, the acclaimed Hindi series is created by Amritpal Singh Bindra and Anand Tiwari, produced by Leo Media Collective Pvt. Ltd, and streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
The jury unanimously selected the series from a strong shortlist, commending it for “making arts and music accessible to all.” Creators of the show, Amritpal Singh Bindra and Anand Tiwari received the award from Dr. L. Murugan, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, in a magnificent ceremony today. Shri Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting was present.
Set between the soulful terrains of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and the serene Shimla Hills, ‘Bandish Bandits Season 02’ continues its exploration of love, ambition, and legacy through the journeys of Radhe and Tamanna. While Radhe’s family grapples with personal and musical upheavals in their ancestral home, Tamanna charts her own path as she begins afresh at the Royal Himalayan Music School. The narrative crescendos as both are thrust into a national televised competition, an arena where old wounds resurface, ambitions collide, and destinies are rewritten.
Featuring a stellar ensemble cast including Ritwik Bhowmik, Shreya Chaudhry, Rajesh Tailang, Sheeba Chadha, Divya Dutta, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Atul Kulkarni, Saurabh Nayyar, Aaliyah Qureishi, Yashaswini Dayama, and Rohan Gurbaxani, the season blends emotional depth with musical mastery, reaffirming its place among India’s most beloved contemporary web series.
Earlier during the festival, Jury Chairperson Bharatbala, along with distinguished jury members Shekhar Das, Munjal Shroff, and Rajeshwari Sachdev, addressed the media at a press conference. They reflected on the expanding universe of digital narratives and the profound ways in which OTT platforms are reshaping India’s creative culture. Their insights touched upon the shifting grammar of contemporary storytelling and the audience’s growing appetite for authentic, diverse, and boundary-pushing content across the country.
Watch the press conference here:
Introduced at the 54th edition of IFFI in 2023, the Best Web Series (OTT) Award reflects India’s evolving entertainment landscape and the meteoric rise of digital-first storytelling. The award aims to celebrate creativity, innovation, and regional diversity in web content produced across India’s vibrant OTT ecosystem.
The award recognises exceptional artistic merit, technical excellence, and cultural impact. It carries a cash prize of ₹10,00,000, shared between the creators and the OTT platform, along with individual certificates.
By honouring outstanding web series each year, IFFI strengthens its commitment to fostering India’s digital storytelling revolution and positioning the country as a global hub for OTT creativity.
About IFFI
Born in 1952, the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) stands tall as South Asia’s oldest and largest celebration of cinema. Jointly hosted by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), State Government of Goa, the festival has grown into a global cinematic powerhouse—where restored classics meet bold experiments, and legendary maestros share space with fearless first-timers. What makes IFFI truly sparkle is its electric mix—international competitions, cultural showcases, masterclasses, tributes, and the high-energy WAVES Film Bazaar, where ideas, deals and collaborations take flight. Staged against Goa’s stunning coastal backdrop from November 20–28, the 56th edition promises a dazzling spectrum of languages, genres, innovations, and voices—an immersive celebration of India’s creative brilliance on the world stage.
For more information, click on:
IFFI Website: https://www.iffigoa.org/
PIB’s IFFI Microsite: https://www.pib.gov.in/iffi/56/
PIB IFFIWood Broadcast Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaEiBaML2AU6gnzWOm3F
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