Should Filmfare awards have second best and third best awards?
As only few actors, actresses, composers, singers, directors, etc., had repeatedly received the Indian filmfare awards, it can be debated that should there be second best and third best awards, in order to extend the list of recipients of these awards, the way it is done in case of National Awards. Even second best films are awarded under National Award scheme which is considered the most neutral award presented by the Government of India in respect of excellence of films.
If we look back at these awards, we will find that Dilip Kumar had won the best actor award 8 times, Shankar Jaikishan had won the best composer award 9 times. The reason these achievements are mentioned is because for those number of times any other actor or composer could not get any award. Instead of that if there had been second best or third best award, it could have encouraged others for performing even better in these films.
These days there has been a trend that the notable personalities who did not receive any award are given a lifetime achievement award to show their contribution to bollywood films. But there is a lot of doubt whether the actors like Dharmender or Jeetender who never got any best actor award were content with their lifetime achievement awards.
Another feature of filmfare awards had been the selected categories under which awards had been given. There was no award for best dancer, which could have rewarded the great efforts of quality dancers like Vaijayantimala, Asha Parekh, Hema Malini, Jaya Prada, Sri Devi, Madhuri Dixit, etc. Among them some of them received best actress award in notable roles and did not mind the fact that their dancing efforts were not rewarded.
In respect of composers, the filmfare awards could identify very few composers, although Indian musical heritage and cultural heritage had been enhanced by rich creation of Vasant Desai, C. Ramchandran, Ghulam Mohammad, Jaidev, who hardly received any recognition for their immortal creations. There is also a debate regarding the term of best supporting actor or actress. Whether these actors or actresses did support the main actor or actress in the respective film is a big question mark. It would have been better if they were categorised as best character actor or actress award. Most of the actors and actresses believe that the greatest satisfaction that they have is when their film becomes commercially successful which shows the love and affection of the viewers. The filmfare awards can be re-modelled for addressing more recipients in the years to come.
By: CR Chatterji.
