Welcome to the concluding episode of The 70s Blog Mela in BollyLand! For the past seven days, your favorite Bollybloggers turned their back on The Golden Made- in-Bengal Age of Hindi Cinema and took time off from cribbing about modern cinema to focus on the era that taught us the true meaning of paisa vasool. Click on the link above or click here to catch up with all the fantastic posts you might have missed.
I want to thank BethLovesBollywood for all the work she’s put in and for always thinking up fun stuff to do. Hooray for our Bethy! Everybody should have a friend like her!
Thanks also go out to VLoveMovies for the cool badge (henceforth a handy link to all the posts, to be found in the widget area) and all of you, bloggers and readers alike, who participated. I hope it was as much fun for you as it was for me.
Right, so on the last day, I thought I’d try my hand at a little awards love. Later this week I will bravely leave the internet behind for a bit of actual human companionship, which means I will not be here for one of my favorite annual rites: The Oscars. 
So I’m going to make up for it by celebrating my Alternate Awards.
As befits a lazy person, I found my list of movies off Wikipedia and then went to the Filmfare website to look for a list of nominees & winners for a spot of contrast. Which is when I found out things like – did you know Filmfare used to have only three nominees every year until they suddenly changed it to five in the 70s? Yes, you possibly did because you’re a better film buff than I. Of course, it could be that whoever they hired to update their databases got really tired and decided to shorten the list. Somebody knowledgeable, please advise.
Another thing I found out was that IMDB, Wikipedia and Filmfare all exist on parallel universes because none of them can agree when a movie was released. Or perhaps Filmfare nominates movies midyear? So confusing! Anyway, this is to let you know that if you see Filmfare has nominated a movie made in 1970 for an award in 1972, do not be surprised or think Amrita has been hitting the vodka bottle. This is how Indian Awards Time works.
Also since I haven’t actually seen all the movies that were released during these years (I only pretend!), and I don’t have overworked editorial assistants to lend a helping hand, I’m sure you’ve all got other choices. Do tell.
Amrita’s Amazingly Alliterative Alternate Awards
1970
Filmfare nominees: Do Raaste, Khilona, Pehchan
Filmfare winner: Khilona
Why: Sanjeev Kumar as a mentally disturbed man and Mumtaz as the prostitute with a heart of gold who cures him? It must have been catnip for the Filmfare cats.
Amrita’s nominees: Kati Patang, Khilona, Sachha Jhhutha
Amrita’s winner: Kati Patang
Why: Fine, so my choice doesn’t make you weep buckets and all poor Rajesh Khanna can offer you is his Alcoholic Lover persona as compared to Sanjeev Kumar frothing at the mouth and gnawing on the furniture. But I much prefer its story of redemption and second chances. And its music. Happiness is not overrated, people.
1971
Filmfare nominees: Anand, Mera Naam Joker, Naya Zamana
Filmfare winner: Anand
Why: It’s a heartwarming tale about a man with a terminal illness who teaches the people around him, especially his morose doctor, a thing or two about living life to its fullest.
Amrita’s nominees: Anand, Guddi, Mere Apne
Amrita’s winner: Mere Apne
Why: In many ways the anti-Anand, nearly forty years after it was made, Gulzar’s directorial debut still packs a powerful punch.
1972
Filmfare nominees: Anubhav, Be-Imaan, Pakeezah
Filmfare winner: Be-Imaan
Why: Um, they were huge Manoj Kumar fans? I have no idea.
Amrita’s nominees: Anubhav, Piya ka Ghar, Seeta aur Geeta
Amrita’s winner: Anubhav
Why: This was an amazing year for Hindi cinema. I’m not surprised that they upped the list of nominees to five hereafter. You can see the gap widening between the parallel movement and Bollywood by simply looking at the list of releases. I thought about giving it to Seeta aur Geeta for its enduring effect on Hindi cinema but Anubhav won – because I love it so.
1973
Filmfare nominees: Anurag, Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar, Bobby, Koshish, Zanjeer
Filmfare winner: Anurag
Why: They must have been smoking the good stuff.
Amrita’s nominees: Koshish, Zanjeer, Abhimaan, Blackmail, Saudagar
Amrita’s winner: Abhimaan
Why: Because it’s a story that’s gotten increasingly relevant.
1974
Filmfare nominees: Ankur, Garam Hawa, Kora Kagaz, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, Rajnigandha
Filmfare winner: Rajnigandha
Why: It stands out till date as an exploration of a young woman’s mind.
Amrita’s nominees: Ankur, Garam Hawa, Kora Kagaz, Rajnigandha, 36 Ghante
Amrita’s winner: Garam Hawa
Why: To me, it’s not even a contest.
1975
Filmfare nominees: Aandhi, Amanush, Deewar, Sanyasi, Sholay
Filmfare winner: Deewar
Why: Sholay may have edged it out for the masala crown but Deewar is one of those movies that attempts to straddle that line of a masala movie with social relevance and gets away with it.
Amrita’s nominees: Aandhi, Rafoo Chakkar, Deewar, Sholay, Chupke Chupke
Amrita’s winner: Chupke Chupke
Why: It’s pure pleasure.
1976
Filmfare nominees: Chhotisi Baat, Chitchor, Kabhie Kabhie, Mausam, Tapasya
Filmfare winner: Mausam
Why: Fine performances by Sanjeev Kumar and Sharmila Tagore hold this movie together and keep it from turning into something skeezy.
Amrita’s nominees: Chhotisi Baat, Chitchor, Ballika Badhu, Mausam, Nishaant
Amrita’s winner: Chhotisi Baat
Why: Because I forgot all about it in my earlier list of romantic movies 
1977
Filmfare nominees: Amar Akbar Anthony, Bhumika, Gharaonda, Manthan, Swami
Filmfare winner: Bhumika
Why: An amazing performance by Smita Patil and a talented cast.
Amrita’s nominees: Amar Akbar Anthony, Bhumika, Gharaonda, Manthan, Swami
Amrita’s winner: Bhumika
Why: If I’d been alive in 1977, Filmfare and I would have been BFFs! We’re so on page with each other!
1978
Filmfare nominees: Ankhiyon Ke Jharakhon Se, Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki, Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Shatranj Ke Khilari, Trishul
Filmfare winner: Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki
Why: o_O!!! Granted this year was slim pickings – I couldn’t even find a proper five for my list – but still!
Amrita’s nominees: Ankhiyon Ke Jharakhon Se, Don, Shatranj Ke Khilari, Trishul
Amrita’s winner: Shatranj Ke Khilari
Why: The best Hindi movie about impotence that you’ll ever see.
1979
Filmfare nominees: Amardeep, Junoon, Kala Patthar, Noorie, Sargam
Filmfare winner: Junoon
Why: It’s the second best Hindi movie about impotence that you’ll ever see!
Amrita’s nominees: Golmaal, Junoon, Kala Patthar, Baaton Baaton Mein, Griha Pravesh
Amrita’s winner: Golmaal
Why: To end the decade and 7 Days of the 70s on a happy note!
PS – first person to mention assonance gets a kick in the pants. 
