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{{short description|Annual film awards in India}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox award
| name = Filmfare Awards
| previous_awards = 
| previous_date   = 
| current_awards  = 70th Filmfare Awards 
| current_date  = {{start date|2025|10|11}}
| next_awards = 
| next_date   = 
| image = Filmfare trophy.png
| alt = The Black Lady statuette
| caption =
| awarded_for = Excellence in [[Bollywood]]
| presenter = [[Filmfare]]
| country = {{flag|India}}
| year = {{Start date and age|1954|3|21}}
| network = [[Doordarshan]] (1987–1999)<br>  [[Sony Entertainment Television]] (2000–2017)<br />[[Colors TV]]<br> (2018–2023)<br />[[Zee TV]]<br> (2024—present)
| website = {{URL|http://www.filmfare.com/|Filmfare}}
}}

The '''Filmfare Awards''' are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in [[Hindi cinema]].<ref name="Mishra 9">Al{{citation|first=Vijay|last=Mishra|title=Bollywood Cinema: A Critical Genealogy|page=9|publisher=[[Victoria University of Wellington]]|url=http://www.victoria.ac.nz/slc/asi/publications/17-bollywood.pdf|access-date=24 February 2011|archive-date=29 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929121230/http://www.victoria.ac.nz/slc/asi/publications/17-bollywood.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The ceremony is one of the most notable film events in India.<ref name="Mehta 2005 135–154 145">{{citation|first=Monika|last=Mehta|title=Globalizing Bombay Cinema: Reproducing the Indian State and Family|journal=Cultural Dynamics|year=2005|volume=17|pages=135–154 [145]|doi=10.1177/0921374005058583|issue=2|s2cid=143950404}}</ref> Filmfare Awards were first introduced by ''[[Filmfare]]'' of [[The Times Group|''The Times Group'']] in 1954, the same year as the [[National Film Awards]].<ref name="Boltin 52–5">{{citation|last=Boltin|first=Kylie|title=Saathiya: South Asian Cinema Otherwise Known as 'Bollywood'|journal=[[Metro (magazine)|Metro Magazine: Media & Education Magazine]]|issue=136|date=Autumn 2003|issn=0312-2654|pages=52–5}}</ref> They were called the Clare Awards, or The Clares, after [[Clare Mendonça]], the editor of ''[[The Times of India]]''.

From 2001, a recorded and edited version of the awards ceremony was televised on [[Sony Entertainment Television (India)|SET]] a week or two after the ceremony has been held. Since [[63rd Filmfare Awards|2018]], the ceremony has been televised on [[Colors TV|Colors]]. Until 2023, the function was held in Mumbai except for year 2020 when the 65th Filmfare Awards event was held on 16 February 2020 at Sarusajai Stadium, [[Guwahati]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://in.news.yahoo.com/stage-set-65th-filmfare-night-023403416.html|title=Stage set for 65th Filmfare night in Guwahati|website=in.news.yahoo.com|language=en-IN|access-date=16 February 2020|archive-date=1 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901094402/https://in.search.yahoo.com/?fr2=inr|url-status=live}}</ref> Until the mid-1990s, Filmfare Awards were the preeminent and most-recognised awards in Bollywood until several other awards sprouted up in Mumbai. This has resulted in poor viewership since the 2000s.<ref name="Mishra 9" /><ref name="Mehta 2005 135–154 145" /><ref name="Boltin 52–5" /><ref>{{cite web |url = http://spicezee.zeenews.com/articles/story80738.htm |title = Filmfare Awards have lost their gleam over the years |access-date = 8 March 2011 |quote = The Filmfare is equivalent to the Oscars for India. |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110816141312/http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/articles/story80738.htm |archive-date = 16 August 2011 |df = dmy-all }}</ref>

In addition to the flagship event, Filmfare also has variants for regional Indian film industries, such as [[Filmfare Awards South]] for [[Cinema of South India|South Indian cinema]]; [[Filmfare Marathi Awards]] for [[Marathi cinema]]; [[Filmfare Awards Bangla]] for [[Cinema of West Bengal|Bengali cinema]], [[Filmfare Awards Punjabi]] for [[Punjabi cinema]]; [[Filmfare OTT Awards]] for [[over-the-top media service|over-the-top content]], [[Filmfare Short Film Awards]] for [[short film]]s; and Filmfare Glamour & Style Awards.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/marathi/movies/news/filmfare-marathi-nominations-2016/articleshow/55576778.cms|title=Filmfare Marathi: Nominations are out|website=The Times of India|date=23 November 2016|access-date=12 March 2019|archive-date=1 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901094330/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/marathi/movies/news/filmfare-marathi-nominations-2016/articleshow/55576778.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>

== History ==
===Beginnings {{anchor|The Introduction}} ===

The Filmfare awards were introduced in 1954. '''The Clares''' was the original name of the award ceremony, named after ''The Times of India'' critic '''Clare Mendonca'''. Readers of ''[[Filmfare]]'' were polled to decide the winners, and over 20,000 readers spread throughout India participated in the polls; [[trophy|trophies]] were given to winners of the popular vote. In the first awards function, held on 21 March 1954 at the [[Metro BIG Cinemas|Metro Theatre]] of [[Mumbai]], only five awards were presented: [[Filmfare Award for Best Film|Best Film]], [[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]], [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]], [[Filmfare Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]], and [[Filmfare Award for Best Music Director|Best Music Director.]]
[[File:Gamal Abdel Nasser at the Filmfare Awards (02).jpg|thumb|Egyptian President [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]] at the Filmfare Awards during his visit to India, March 1960.]]
''[[Do Bigha Zameen]]'' was the first movie to win the award for Best Film. The first winners for the other four categories were: [[Bimal Roy]] for his direction of ''Do Bigha Zameen'', [[Dilip Kumar]] for his performance in ''[[Daag (1952 film)|Daag]]'', [[Meena Kumari]] for her performance in ''[[Baiju Bawra (film)|Baiju Bawra]]'', and [[Naushad Ali]] for his music in ''Baiju Bawra''. The Filmfare Awards also introduced the [[Filmfare Short Film Awards|Short Film]] Category in 2017, with [[Vidya Balan]] and [[Gauri Shinde]] on the jury.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/filmfare-awards-to-introduce-short-film-category-this-year-vidya-balan-gauri-shinde-on-jury-3159026.html |title='Filmfare Awards to introduce Short Film category this year; Vidya Balan, Gauri Shinde on the jury' – First Post |publisher=firstpost.com |date=16 December 2016 |access-date=6 April 2017 |archive-date=1 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901094332/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/filmfare-awards-to-introduce-short-film-category-this-year-vidya-balan-gauri-shinde-on-jury-3159026.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The People's Choice Award for Best Short Film was presented to ''Khamakha''. Short films like ''Chutney'', ''Matitali Kusti'' and ''Taandav'' won awards as well.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards-2017/winners |title='WINNERS OF THE FILMFARE AWARDS 2017' – Film fare |publisher=filmfare.com |access-date=19 January 2017 |archive-date=23 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523103427/http://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards-2017/winners |url-status=live }}</ref>

Hollywood star [[Gregory Peck]] was invited to be the guest of honour at the first ever awards on 21 March 1954 at the Metro theatre, Mumbai but could not make it to the function since his flight from Colombo got delayed. However, Peck did attend the banquet that followed the award night at Wellington Club (Gymkhana), Mumbai.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/calcutta-times/I-behaved-like-Gregory-Peck-to-impress-Suraiya/articleshow/22778.cms |title='I behaved like Gregory Peck to impress Suraiya' – The Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=14 June 2003 |access-date=30 September 2012 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225233756/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/calcutta-times/I-behaved-like-Gregory-Peck-to-impress-Suraiya/articleshow/22778.cms%20 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="liveindia1">{{cite web |url=http://www.liveindia.com/news/Filmfare_Awards_facts.html |title=Filmfare Awards Facts |publisher=Liveindia.com |access-date=30 September 2012 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225233814/http://www.liveindia.com/news/Filmfare_Awards_facts.html%20 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Postponement in 1986 and 1987 ===
The winners for the year 1985 were announced in 1986 and the event was scheduled to be held at the [[Brabourne Stadium]] in December 1986. The ''Bombay Film Industry'' as it was known then, went on strike in 1986 because of its many contentious issues with the [[Government of Maharashtra]]. As a result, the ceremony was pushed to the next year. The winners of 1985 were awarded on 28 January 1987. For security reasons, the Filmfare was not awarded for 1986 and 1987.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hamaraforums.com/index.php?showtopic=3477&st=30 |title=50 years of Filmfare awards |publisher=Hamara Forums |access-date=30 September 2012 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225233807/http://www.hamaraforums.com/index.php?showtopic=3477&st=30%20 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Red carpet {{anchor|The Red Carpet}} ===
The [[Red carpet|red carpet]] is a segment that takes place before the beginning of the actual ceremony. This is when actors, actresses, producers, directors, singers, composers, and others that have contributed to Indian cinema are introduced.<ref>{{cite web |author=Kritika Ajmani |url=http://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/59th-idea-filmfare-awards-2013-amitabh-bachchan-salman-khan-priyanka-chopra-sizzle-on-the-red-carpet-view-pics/#!1/amitabh-priyanka-salman/ |title=59th Idea Filmfare Awards 2013: Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra sizzle on the red carpet. View pics! – Bollywood News & Gossip, Movie Reviews, Trailers & Videos at |publisher=Bollywoodlife.com |date=25 January 2014 |access-date=5 August 2014 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225233759/https://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/59th-idea-filmfare-awards-2013-amitabh-bachchan-salman-khan-priyanka-chopra-sizzle-on-the-red-carpet-view-pics/#!1/amitabh-priyanka-salman/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Hosts question the celebrities about upcoming performances and who they think deserves to take the Black Lady home.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.thenational.ae/arts-culture/scene-heard/tonight-at-7-30pm-weblog-live-well-not-really-about-the-Filmfare-awards |title=Tonight at 7.30pm: we live blog (well, not really) about the Filmfare Awards &#124; The National |publisher=Blogs.thenational.ae |date=26 January 2014 |access-date=5 August 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

=== 2013 awards ===
The [[58th Filmfare Awards]] honoured the best Hindi-language films of 2012 and were held on 20 January 2013 at [[Yash Raj Studios]], [[Andheri]], Mumbai.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Filmfare Awards 2013: Aishwarya Rai unveils golden trophy |url=https://www.emirates247.com/news-in-images/aishwarya-rai-bachchan-unveils-filmfare-s-gold-trophy-2013-01-10-1.490552 |website=Emirates 24/7 |date=10 January 2013 |access-date=23 October 2025}}</ref> The ceremony was hosted by [[Shah Rukh Khan]] and [[Saif Ali Khan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=58th Filmfare Awards 2013: Complete Winners List |url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/58th-idea-filmfare-awards-2013-winners-list-1547.html |website=Filmfare |access-date=23 October 2025}}</ref>

The theme for the 2013 ceremony was described as "a hundred years in the future", continuing from the previous year's celebration of one hundred years of Indian cinema.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Filmfare Awards 2013 Theme: 100 Years in the Future |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/filmfare-awards-theme-2013/articleshow/18057520.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=23 October 2025}}</ref> The organisers also redesigned the iconic "'''Black Lady'''" trophy for the occasion, adding a gold-plated base to mark the centenary milestone.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aishwarya Rai unveils Filmfare's Golden Lady |url=https://www.emirates247.com/news-in-images/aishwarya-rai-bachchan-unveils-filmfare-s-gold-trophy-2013-01-10-1.490552 |website=Emirates 24/7 |access-date=23 October 2025}}</ref>

Among the major winners, ''[[Barfi!]]'' led the ceremony with twelve nominations and won seven awards, including [[Filmfare Award for Best Film|Best Film]]. ''[[Kahaani]]'' also earned several honours, including [[Filmfare Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] for [[Vidya Balan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=58th Filmfare Awards 2013 Winners |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/58th_Filmfare_Awards |access-date=23 October 2025}}</ref>

The 58th Filmfare Awards were notable for blending futuristic presentation with a retrospective celebration of [[Indian cinema]]'s century-long legacy.

==Trophy==
The [[statuette]], depicting a woman whose arms are upraised in a dance number with her fingers touching, is commonly referred to as "The Black Lady" (or "The Lady in Black"). Originally designed by N.G. Pansare under the supervision of ''[[Times of India]]''{{'}}s art director Walter Langhammer, it is generally made of bronze, its height is 46.5&nbsp;cm and it weighs around 5&nbsp;kg.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Pinto, Jerry |journal=Filmfare |date=April 1997 |title=Tangy titbits from the Filmfare past |url=http://www.filmfare.com/site/apr97/fact1.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980705041114/http://www.filmfare.com/site/apr97/fact1.htm |archive-date=5 July 1998 |access-date=13 January 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> To celebrate the 25th year of the awards, the statues were made in [[silver]] and to celebrate the 50th year the statues were made in [[gold]].<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|title=A golden glow for Filmfare|date=28 January 2005|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/28/stories/2005012811310500.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050302190604/http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/28/stories/2005012811310500.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 March 2005|agency=[[Press Trust of India|PTI]]|access-date=26 January 2011}}</ref> The Filmfare trophy has been manufactured by The Award Gallery since 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theawardgallery.com/filmfare-p-446.html|title=Times of India Film Awards 2013, TOIFA 2013, Toifa|website=theawardgallery.com|access-date=29 December 2020|archive-date=1 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901094422/https://theawardgallery.com/filmfare-p-446.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Until 2012, there had only been a few changes made to the trophy. But as of 2014, a huge change was made to give the trophy a 3-D look.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} There were two reasons given for this change. First, that the organisers believe that it was necessary to match the many advances in technology in today's world, which will advance a lot more in the coming years as well. This was also an attempt to match the theme of the 2013 set of awards at Filmfare in Mumbai: a hundred years leap into the future.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com">{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/Filmfare-Awards-to-be-held-on-January-24/articleshow/28488771.cms |title=Filmfare Awards to be held on January 24 - The Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=7 January 2014 |access-date=5 August 2014 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225233822/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/Filmfare-Awards-to-be-held-on-January-24/articleshow/28488771.cms%20 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Categories ==
=== Current categories ===
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Film|Best Film]]: since 1954
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]]: since 1954
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]: since 1954
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]: since 1954
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]: since 1955
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]]: since 1955
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut|Best Male Debut]]: since 1989
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut|Best Female Debut]]: since 1989
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director|Best Debut Director]]: since 2010
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Music Director|Best Music Director]]: since 1954
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist|Best Lyricist]]: since 1959
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer|Best Male Playback Singer]]: since 1959
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer|Best Female Playback Singer]]: since 1959

===Discontinued categories===
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role|Best Performance in a Comic Role]] (1967–2007)
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role|Best Performance in a Negative Role]] (1992–2007)

== Critics' awards ==
===Current awards===
* [[Filmfare Critics Award for Best Film|Best Film Critics]]: since 1971
* [[Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor|Best Actor Critics]]: since 1998
* [[Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress|Best Actress Critics]]: since 1998

===Discontinued awards===
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Documentary|Best Documentary]] (1967–1997)
* [[Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor|Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance]] (1991–1997)

== Technical awards ==
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Story|Best Story]]: since 1955
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]]: since 1969
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue|Best Dialogue]]: since 1959
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Action|Best Action]]: since 1993
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Art Direction|Best Art Direction]]: since 1956
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Background Score|Best Background Score]]: since 1998
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer|Best Cinematography]]: since 1954
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]]: since 1956
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Choreography|Best Choreography]]: since 1989
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Sound|Best Sound Design]]: since 1955
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Special Effects|Best Special Effects]]: since 2007
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]: since 1995

== Special categories ==
===Current special categories===
* [[Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award|Lifetime Achievement]]: since 1991
* [[Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent|RD Burman Award for New Music Talent]]: since 1995
* [[Filmfare Special Award|Special Performance Award]]: since 1971

===Discontinued special categories===
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Scene of the Year|Best Scene of the Year]] (1998–2012)
* [[Filmfare Power Award|Power Award]] (2003–2007)

==Other editions==
===Filmfare OTT Awards===
{{main|Filmfare OTT Awards}}

In 2020, Filmfare started ''[[Filmfare OTT Awards]]'' for the best in web series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/filmfare-ott-awards-2020-paatal-lok-off-to-a-great-start-list-of-winners-2340941|title=Filmfare OTT Awards 2020: Big Night For Paatal Lok And The Family Man. Complete List Of Winners|website=NDTV.com|access-date=29 December 2020|archive-date=20 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220223820/https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/filmfare-ott-awards-2020-paatal-lok-off-to-a-great-start-list-of-winners-2340941|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Filmfare Awards Punjabi===
{{main|Filmfare Awards Punjabi}}

Filmfare Awards for Punjabi-language film industry.

===Filmfare Awards Marathi===
{{main|Filmfare Awards Marathi}}

Filmfare Awards for Marathi-language film industry.

===Filmfare Awards Bangla===
{{main|Filmfare Awards Bangla}}

Filmfare Awards for Bengali-language film industry.

===Filmfare Awards South===
{{main|Filmfare Awards South}}

Filmfare Awards for South Indian film industries.

===Filmfare Awards East===
{{main|Filmfare Awards East}}

Filmfare Awards for East Indian film industries. Defunct and rebranded as [[Filmfare Awards Bangla]].

===Filmfare Awards Bangla===
{{main|Filmfare Awards Bangla}}

Filmfare Awards for Bengali cinema.

===Filmfare Short Film Awards===
{{main|Filmfare Short Film Awards}}

Filmfare Awards for short films.

==Records==
{{main|List of Filmfare Award records}}

==See also==
* [[Bollywood]]
* [[Cinema of India]]
* [[List of Filmfare Award records]]
* [[Filmfare]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://www.filmfare.com/ Filmfare Awards]
* [https://filmfaremiddleeast.com/ Filmfare Middle East]
* [http://deep750.googlepages.com/FilmfareAwards.pdf List of Filmfare Award Winners and Nominations, 1953–2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612065210/http://deep750.googlepages.com/FilmfareAwards.pdf |date=12 June 2009 }}

{{Filmfare Awards}}
{{Filmfare Awards South}}
{{Television Awards in India}}
{{The Times Group}}

[[Category:Filmfare Awards| ]]
[[Category:Indian film awards]]
[[Category:Hindi film awards]]
[[Category:Events of The Times Group]]
[[Category:Film industry in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1954]]
[[Category:1954 establishments in Bombay State]]