It took Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 12th Fail for people to question the selection choice of films for awards—and the difference between ‘popular’ and ‘critics’ categories.
At the 2024 Filmfare Awards, 12th Fail won Best Film (Popular) while Joram won Best Film (Critics). There was a similar dissonance in the Best Actor awards as well, with Vikrant Massey winning the Critics category for 12th Fail.
How is it that ‘massy’ box office champions sweep all major categories while deserving performances have to make do with the consolation prize that is the Critics Choice Award?
This has sparked an online debate too, with fans questioning whether the awards are rigged. Many have voiced their disappointment over Shah Rukh Khan losing out to Ranbir Kapoor, who won Best Actor in a Leading Role (male) for the much-criticised Animal. And Alia Bhatt, who won the Best Actor (female) award for her performance in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, was bitter icing on the cake. What about Rani Mukerji in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway, or Shefali Shah in Three of Us?
But this isn’t the first time an undeserving face or out-and-out masala film has won disproportionate recognition; it’s a disturbing trend that has continued through the years. Gangubai Kathiawadi won over Badhaai Do in 2023, and Bajirao Mastani over Piku in 2016.
It is particularly hard to understand why Shah Rukh Khan, who delivered three back-to-back blockbusters with Jawan, Pathaan and Dunki, was denied an award at this year’s edition of the Filmfare Awards.
#Chaleya not wining#Nayanthara not in nomination#Anirudh no nomination#ArijitSingh not winning#SRK robbed of his 9th Best Actor Award again
And I should take this flimfare seriously! #FilmfareAwards2024
FILMFARE RIGGED
FILMFARE BAISED AWARD SHOW
— Vaibhav (@Vaibhav7SRKian) January 29, 2024
It was surprising to see that #Jawan did not get any mainstream award at the Filmfare 2024. By far this is the most liked Indian Film in recent times.
FILMFARE RIGGED pic.twitter.com/pKxKJYd3Vs
— Javed (Fan) (@JoySRKian_2) January 29, 2024
Miffed fans are also calling out the awards panel for being unfair to Vikrant Massey, who delivered a stellar performance in 12th Fail.
Filmfare is such a joke. Why would 12th fail be in Best Film (Popular) but Vikrant Massey in Best Actor (Critics)??? Ranveer Singh was robbbeddd
— sree (@heartlathola) January 29, 2024
Heartiest Congratulations to @VikrantMassey for best actor ( critics) , however,am not happy with Filmfare awards cuz Vikrant Sir deserved Best actor ( lead) award with due respect to Ranbir Kapoor, as Vikrant Sir acting was incredible outstanding acting in 12 thfail.Good wishes
— pri (@priyaprasad26) January 29, 2024
The audience is much smarter now, and no longer quiet. Armed with social media, it is unafraid to diss nepotism – as seen after the death of Sushant Singh Rajput in 2020 and post the release of Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies earlier this year. It notes everything; glitz and glam can no longer veil bad performances.
So who exactly are we fooling?
How awardees are nominated
As per the Filmfare website, nominations in the popular category are a mix of audience voting and jury choices. People can vote for their favourite actors and films by filling out a form available both online and offline. These selections are put on a list by jury members, who then pronounce their verdict. It is clear, thus, that jury members have the final say in picking the winner.
Massey missing out on even being nominated in the Popular category feels suspicious. After all, 12th Fail was a sleeper hit and the audience was united in its verdict about his performance. Even Vicky Kaushal, who won the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in Dunki this year, received the Best Critics Choice award for the acclaimed Sardar Udham in 2022.
Shefali Shah, who shared her Best Actor Female (Critics) win with Mukerji, was also left out of the nominations for Best Actor Female (Popular). Alia Bhatt’s win feels unjustifiable compared to these performances. While she is a mega-talented actor, her performance in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahanii can’t be called an award-winning one.
‘Rigged’ rumours, tantrums
This year’s winners list makes one wonder if Aamir Khan was right in calling award shows biased. There have been multiple reports about how actors throw tantrums, cancel appearances or refuse to perform upon being denied awards. Appeasement is a regular feature, too.
Some have also pointed out that Alia and Ranbir won because they’re Karan Johar’s “favourites”. For the uninitiated, Johar is a part of the Filmfare jury.
Karan Johar [DOC] = Filmfare award for song , dialogue, actress, choreography, supportive actress etc
Stage performance and saying papa 200 times = Best actor award
FILMFARE RIGGED pic.twitter.com/Xrhkqla5Ej
— Priyanshu Srkia (@Priyanshu_Srkia) January 29, 2024
Rename it to Karan Johar Awards instead of Filmfare already 🤡 https://t.co/kY18vclWXx
— Fire Flies🔥(Taylor's Version) (@friction0307) January 29, 2024
It helps to be on the call list of jury members, especially if they are kingmakers or can influence wins and losses to some degree. Either way, these awards, and the reactions from fans, are a warning to the film industry – the audience is watching.
(Edited by Zoya Bhatti)
Alia Bhatt is not a mega talented actor.She is one lucky hyped-up actor. These actors look completely artificial in comparison to Rani, Preeti Zinta, and many other female actors of that time. Even Pooja Bhatt was better than her. But she is successful I don’t know why. There are many celebrities who are prioritised disregarding their inferior talent, for instance, cricketers like Rishabh pant, kaif, Dhoni, rohit sharma, dhawan etc are not only successful, but highly admired, who I think are completely undeserving. Everyone, except Dhoni himself, thinks Dhoni is a great batsmen.
I mean compare Alia with Manisha Koiralla or urmilla, Karishma. Most of actors of this generation seem dull and lifeless (actingwise). I believe any one who can admire good art can act better than them without any prior experience.