/ Filmfare's Golden Moments

by Anokhi Admin

Filmfare’s Golden Moments

Dec 18, 2014

_{2014: Actress Madhuri Dixit (Photography courtesy of Filmfare)}

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You can love them or hate them, but it’s difficult to ignore them. Despite always being mired in controversy (but then again, which awards show isn’t?), the Filmfare Awards are as important to Bollywood fans as the Oscars are to Hollywood aficionados.

Watching their favourite celebrities shaking booty, shedding a happy tear or kissing the “Black Lady” has set millions of hearts aflutter, year after year. Here’s a look back at the award ceremony’s storied history.

The Beginning
Not many know that the Filmfares — the first gala feting Hindi films — were originally called The Clares, after the Indian film critic Clare Mendonca. The trophy, famously called the “Black Lady,” represents a dancing woman and is one piece every Bollywood star wants to display on their mantle. Generally made of bronze and all black, the statues were made in silver to celebrate the 25th year of the awards and in gold to celebrate the 50th year. In 2013, they had a gold plated base to mark 100 years of Indian Cinema. The first ceremony was held on March 21, 1954, and only five awards were presented: best film, best director, best actor, best actress and best music director. Today, Filmfare presents awards in 31 categories.

_{1973: Actress Nutan presents Rishi Kapoor Best Actor award for his role in Bobby. (Photo courtesy of Filmfare @BCCL)}

The Biggest Winners
Dilip Kumar, who snared the trophy for best actor that first year for his flick Daag, was honoured eight times over his career including another best actor award in 1957 for his iconic role in the original Devdas, a feat only Shah Rukh Khan — one of Kumar’s biggest fans — has achieved up to this point.

The movie to rake in the most awards to date is producer and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black, an inspirational story about the relationship between a blind and deaf girl and her teacher, played by Rani Mukerji and the legendary Amitabh Bachchan. The movie swept all the major categories in 2005 and was the first to scoop all the critics’ awards. The result was 11 Filmfares, beating out previous record holders Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) and Devdas (2002) — both Shah Rukh Khan films with 10 awards each.

_{1978: Nutan receives Best Actress Award for Mein Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki, and Amitabh Bachchan wins for Best Actor in Don (Photo courtesy of Filmfare @BCCL)}

Memorable Moments

Brothers Kishore Kumar and Ashok Kumar breaking into an impromptu song on stage. Shah Rukh Khan emotionally dedicating his best actor award for Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge to his infant son. Usha Uthup bursting into tears upon receiving her first Filmfare in her 42-year career for her song “Darrrling” in Saat Khoon Maaf. This is the stuff that legendary Filmfare Award evenings are made of.

It is especially exciting to recall how the superstars of today reacted when they received their first Filmfare. Aamir Khan stopped attending popular award events long back, but was thrilled to accept his first Filmfare for his debut in 1988’s Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. Despite not being a fan of the Filmfares, Khan has won seven.

In 1993 the ceremony got off to a scary start when a bomb threat was received. However, security was beefed up and the show went on. Shah Rukh Khan won a Filmfare for sensational debut in Deewana. In his speech he recalled how, many years back as a little boy, he had rushed home to show his first trophy to his mom, who incidentally was away at that time. Alas, his mother wasn’t there to see his first Filmfare either. He raised it to the skies and, in a choked voice, said, “This one is for you, mom.” To date, King Khan has won 15 Filmfares trophie.

Hrithik Roshan had become a star with Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai. So, when he appeared on stage to accept his Filmfare for sensational debut in 2001, the audience was ecstatic. But his very emotional speech about a mafia attack on his father — actor, producer and director Rakesh Roshan — and how that made him want to quit the industry before he even got started, changed the mood to a solemn one. The audience was dewy-eyed but Roshan made up for it with an electric live performance later that night. Roshan also received the best actor award for the same film that night and he has bagged four Filmfares since.

As we continue to celebrate the cinematic achievements of the Indian film industry this year, it’s good to look back to see how it all began.