Originally posted by: return_to_hades
Great point. But I feel that whenever a non-blockbuster or flop won back in the day it was more due to a production house. Lamhe was a Yash Chopra film. Filmfare used to favor popular hits over flops, it's just changed recently. But I won't be surprised if they go back to their old ways again soon.
I'm with you. YRF was favoured by whoever was in charge of Filmfare from that period until about mid-2000s.
Which in some ways I understand - this type of "association" if you think about it. Because if I was in charge, obviously my favourites would win. Whoever I think is the best in my opinion. So it would be MY bias. Although I would, and I'm sure they do, to an extent (and this goes for every award show), try to weigh out artistic ability outside our own choices to give a fairer assessment.
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But one thing I'm not sure has been touched on in this topic is the fact that not only was Raja Hindustani the biggest "hit" of the year, it was also seen as a good film at the time. It's not like it was panned by critics. This was the mid-90s, it had a lot of the elements that were prevalent in what was seen then as a "good movie". (the character arc of the heroine, the music, the melodrama, the "family" element, the "comedy" side actors).
And getting to my main point: the reason why RH stands out today is because it has HAS AGED BADLY.
Of course other big 90s films like DDLH, HAHK, KKHH, DTPH have fallen into various categories of cringe/kitsch, but RH in particular has not aged well at all compared to all others.
That's why it feels surprising to some now looking back and seeing that it won the award.
If we look at the other films in that category for 1996's Best Film:
- Agni Sakshi
- Bandit Queen
- Khamoshi
- Maachis
- Raja Hindustani
RH stands out as being the one that has aged the worst. Maachis, Bandit Queen and Khamoshi have aged very well. And if there was a vote today 25 years later, those 3 would likely beat RH. Sensibilities have changed in a certain kind of way, as has society itself, that this kind of film just pales in comparison to Khamoshi or Maachis.
Also note: Khamoshi won the award for Critics Best Film, and Manisha Koirala won Critics Best Actress.
Udne Ki Aasha
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