The 17th Filmfare Awards South was once again held in Bombay (now Mumbai) in the year 1970. South Indian Films (Tamil and Telugu only) were considered in the 11th, 12th, and 13th Filmfare Awards South. However, Malayalam Films were also added to the 14th Filmfare Awards South (1967). Thereafter, Kannada Films were also added to the 17th Filmfare Awards South. Thus, all four languages of South Indian Films were considered for awards since the 17th Filmfare Awards South (1970).
About Filmfare Awards South
Filmfare Awards South is a separate segment of the annual Filmfare Awards. The First Filmfare Awards were given on 21 March 1954.
Initially, only Hindi cinema personalities get nominated and awarded in various Filmfare Categories. Thereafter, Filmfare started new segments like Filmfare South, Filmfare Marathi, and Filmfare Bengali.
Filmfare Magazine presents Filmfare Awards. The Time Group publish the Filmfare magazine. Filmfare Awards acknowledge and honor the talent of Hindi Cinema. Whereas Filmfare Awards South aims to consider South Indian Films and related film personalities to honor and encourage them.
Introduction of Filmfare Awards South
South Film Industry makes films in mainly four languages namely Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada. Thus, Filmfare Magazine introduced the new segment of Filmfare Awards for South.
The First Filmfare Award was held in the year 1954 in Bombay (now Mumbai). Filmfare presented awards, for Hindi Cinema, in five categories only.
Thereafter, Filmfare introduced Filmfare Awards South in the year 1964. Meaning thereby, after ten (10) years of the First Filmfare Awards held in Bombay (now Mumbai).
In the meantime, Filmfare also introduced Filmfare Awards East and Filmfare Marathi Awards in 1963. Filmfare Awards East were initially meant for Bangla Cinema. However, Assamese and Odia cinema were also included in the year 2014.
Winners of 17th Filmfare Awards South (1970)
Best Tamil Film
| Film | Producer |
| Adimai Penn | M. G. Ramachandran |
Best Telugu Film
| Film | Producer |
| Bangaru Panjaram | Bommireddy Narasimha Reddy |
Best Malayalam Film
| Film | Producer |
| Adimakal | M. O. Joseph |
Best Kannada Film
| Film | Producer |
| Namma Makkalu | Harini |
Special Jury Award
| Recipient | Film |
| Jayalalithaa | Adimaippenn |
Highlights
- Jayalalithaa received Special Award for the Tamil Action Film Adimaippenn.
- Jayalalithaa earlier received Special Award for the Tamil Film Chandhrodhayam in the 14th Filmfare Awards South (1967).
- Special Jury Award was not given in the 12th Filmfare Awards South (1965) and the 15th Filmfare Awards South (1968).
- Adimai Penn won the Best Film (Tamil) in the 17th Filmfare Awards South (1970).
- Bangaru Panjaram won the Best Film (Telugu) in the 17th Filmfare Awards South (1970).
- Adimakal won the Best Film (Malayalam) in the 17th Filmfare Awards South (1970).
- Namma Makkalu won the Best Film (Kannada) in the 17th Filmfare Awards South (1970).
