Filmfare Award

The film world is a wild and wacky one, with its temperamental, whimsical stars, hit and miss productions, gimmicks, special effects and shenanigans galore. Most of all, it has an enthusiasm that is not just endearing, but infectious as well, a spirit that spreads through all those who associate with it, from within or without. The Filmfare Awards were constituted in 1953 to honour Bollywood's best talents and provide tangible encouragement and incentive to the principal talents of the motion picture industry. Every winner is awarded a trophy and as years went by, the Filmfare Awards stand as the Oscars of Indian Cinema. The Filmfare awards are eagerly awaited every year, with readers of the magazine polling their opinions to decide who wins and who doesn't.

The guest of honour at the first ever awards (March 21, 1954 at the Metro theatre, Mumbai) was to be Gregory Peck. He couldn't make it--his flight from Colombo, where he was on location for Purple Plain, was delayed. But he did attend the banquet that followed at the Willingdon Sports Club.

The first Filmfare Awards function were held amidst much anticipation. Over 20,000 votes from readers all over the country had poured in to select the best film, actor, actress, music director and singer.

At first, the awards were called Clares after Clare Mendonca, the Times of India film critic who died the year of the first awards, 1954. However, the name didn't stick

At the first awards function, only 5 awards were presented with Do Bigha Zameen winning the award for the best film while Bimal Roy carried off the statuette for Best Director for the same film. Dilip Kumar won the first of many awards for his performance in Daag, while Meena Kumari won hers for Baiju Bawra. Best Music Director went to Naushad for Baiju Bawra.

It's been a long time since then. Films have evolved, stars have moved on, techno-crews have metamorphosed. Gratifyingly, the imperishable magic of Hindi cinema remains.....

The Filmfare awards have truly become an institution. It salutes an industry that has it's own style and definition of success. It is the story of the stars of Indian cinema. The ones we have grown with and the ones who have grown with us. The ones who have shaped our psyches. The ones from whom we've learnt to love, laugh,cry....

From it's inception, the awards have always been a keenly contested event with a simple moral : Good triumphs over mediocrity

Here's the complete history of the Filmfare awards and winners down the years....