YUCA Awards Controversy: Shweta Mehra and Inder Arya Level Serious Allegations of Bias and Favoritism

The upcoming edition of the Young Uttarakhand Cine Awards (YUCA), scheduled to take place on August 30, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, has found itself embroiled in major controversy following sharp criticism from prominent Pahadi artists. Established in 2009 by the Young Uttarakhand organization to honor regional cinema, folk art, and music, the annual event is now facing serious allegations regarding its nomination choices and internal management.

The debate erupted on social media after the official nominations failed to include "Jia Kori Kori Khando," a highly popular track sung by veteran singer Kishan Mahipal and featuring actress Tannu Rawat. Reacting strongly to the omission, actress Shweta Mehra took to Facebook, making a controversial post where she claimed that awards were being sold once again this year, expressing deep disappointment over the snubbing of the hit song.

The situation further escalated when popular folk singer Inder Arya shared Shweta’s post along with his own detailed grievance. Arya alleged long-standing discrimination by YUCA, stating that despite delivering numerous superhit tracks over nine years, he has never received fair recognition. Recalling his past personal experience with the organizers, Arya claimed that artists were subjected to blatant favoritism on set—ranging from unequal rehearsal time slots to stark disparities in hotel accommodations provided to different performers.

Arya further added that the management lacked transparency and proper artistic respect, leaving performers with no grievance mechanism when issues arose during live rehearsals. His candid post has ignited widespread discussions across social media, with fans and industry followers debating whether the organization suffers from deep-seated bias or if the criticisms stem from individual misunderstandings.

These emerging internal rifts and public disputes bring a sense of disappointment to Pahadi music enthusiasts, especially at a time when the regional Uttarakhand film and music industry is experiencing rapid growth on a national platform.