The 42nd Filmfare Awards were held on 23 February 1997, in Mumbai, India.
Khamoshi: The Musical led the ceremony with 13 nominations, followed by Raja Hindustani with 11 nominations and Maachis with 10 nominations.
Khamoshi: The Musical and Raja Hindustani won 5 awards each, thus becoming the most-awarded films at the ceremony, with the former winning Best Film (Critics) for Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Best Actress (Critics) for Manisha Koirala, and the latter winning Best Film, Best Actor for Aamir Khan and Best Actress for Karisma Kapoor.
Main awards
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Best Film
Best Director
- Dharmesh Darshan – Raja Hindustani
- Gulzar – Maachis
- Partho Ghosh – Agni Sakshi
- Rajkumar Santoshi – Ghatak: Lethal
Best Actor
- Govinda – Saajan Chale Sasural
- Nana Patekar – Agni Sakshi
- Nana Patekar – Khamoshi: The Musical
- Sunny Deol – Ghatak: Lethal
Best Actress
Karisma Kapoor – Raja Hindustani
- Juhi Chawla – Daraar
- Manisha Koirala – Khamoshi: The Musical
- Seema Biswas – Bandit Queen
- Tabu – Maachis
Best Supporting Actor
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
- Archana Puran Singh – Raja Hindustani
- Helen – Khamoshi: The Musical
- Seema Biswas – Khamoshi: The Musical
- Tabu – Jeet
Best Actor in a Comic Role
Satish Kaushik – Saajan Chale Sasural
- Johnny Lever – Raja Hindustani
- Kader Khan – Saajan Chale Sasural
- Navneet Nishan – Raja Hindustani
- Shakti Kapoor – Loafer
Best Actor in a Negative Role
- Ashish Vidyarthi – Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin
- Danny Denzongpa – Ghatak: Lethal
- Milind Gunaji – Fareb
- Naseeruddin Shah – Chaahat
Best Music
Raja Hindustani – Nadeem-Shravan
- Khamoshi: The Musical – Jatin–Lalit
- Maachis – Vishal Bhardwaj
- Papa Kehte Hai – Rajesh Roshan
- Tere Mere Sapne – Viju Shah
Best Lyrics
Papa Kehte Hai – Javed Akhtar for Ghar Se Nikalte Hi
- Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin – Nida Fazli for Jeevan Kya Hai
- Khamoshi: The Musical – Majrooh Sultanpuri for Aaj Main Upar
- Maachis – Gulzar for Chappa Chappa
- Raja Hindustani – Sameer for Pardesi Pardesi
Best Playback Singer, Male
Raja Hindustani – Udit Narayan for Pardesi Pardesi
- Diljale – Udit Narayan for Ho Nahin Sakta
- Fareb – Abhijeet for Yeh Teri Aankhen Jhuki Jhuki
- Maachis – Hariharan and Suresh Wadkar for Chappa Chappa
- Papa Kehte Hai – Udit Narayan for Ghar Se Nikalte Hi
Best Playback Singer, Female
Khamoshi: The Musical – Kavita Krishnamurthy for Aaj Main Upar
- Agni Sakshi – Kavita Krishnamurthy for O Yaara Dil Lagana
- Khamoshi: The Musical – Alka Yagnik for Baahon Ke Darmiyaan
- Raja Hindustani – Alka Yagnik for Pardesi Pardesi
Best Debut, Male
Best Debut, Female
Best Story
Best Screenplay
Ghatak: Lethal – Rajkumar Santoshi
Best Dialogue
Best Action
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Choreography
Rakshak – Chinni Prakash for Sheher Ki Ladki
Best Art Direction
Best Sound
Special awards
Lifetime achievement award
Dharmendra and Mumtaz
Special Award
Govinda, Nasir Hussain, Pran and Shobhna Samarth
R.D.Burman Award
Critics' awards
Best Film
Best Actress
Manisha Koirala – Khamoshi: The Musical
Best Documentary
Beyond the Himalayas
Biggest winners
- Khamoshi: The Musical – 5/13
- Raja Hindustani – 5/11
- Maachis – 3/11
- Ghatak: Lethal – 3/6
- Bandit Queen – 3/5