Telugu-English film ‘Impure’ addresses patriarchy without the angry tropes

A Telugu-English dramedy set in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, Impure, has won the Audience Award at the Indiewood Film Festival 2026 in Los Angeles.

The film, produced by and starring Varahi Mallipamula and directed by Nishanti Evani, also features actor Kireeti Damaraju and lead actor Yashna Muthuluri.

Described by its makers as “not an anti-patriarchy or an anti-men film,” Impure avoids angry feminist tropes to deliver what they call “a sharp and funny takedown of a system that shames women for their sexuality and sidelines men who do not fit the mold of success.”

The film addresses themes of patriarchy and virginity through a comedic lens, marking a notable win for independent Indian cinema on the international festival circuit.