The 18th Filmfare Awards South was once again held in Bombay (now Mumbai) in the year 1971. South Indian Cinema is considered for the award. South Indian Cinema is available in four languages i.e. Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada. Thus, all these four languages films are considered for the award.
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.
South Indian Films (Tamil and Telugu only) were considered in the 11th, 12th, and 13th Filmfare Awards South. Malayalam Films were 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).
Winners of 18th Filmfare Awards South (1971)
Best Tamil Film
| Film | Producer |
| Engirundho Vandhaal | K. Balaji |
Best Telugu Film
| Film | Producer |
| Dharma Daata | Tammareddy Krishna Murthy |
Best Malayalam Film
| Film | Producer |
| Vaazhve Mayam | M. O. Joseph |
Best Kannada Film
| Film | Producer |
| Sri Krishnadevaraya | B. R. Panthulu |
Special Jury Award
| Recipient | Film |
| Jayalalithaa | Engirundho Vandhaal |
Highlights (18th Filmfare Awards South)
- Jayalalithaa received Special Award for the Tamil language Film Engirundho Vandhaal.
- It was her 2nd consecutive Special Filmfare Award (South).
- Jayalalithaa received Special Award for the Tamil language Film Adimaippenn in the 17th Filmfare Awards South (1970).
- She 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).
- Engirundho Vandhaal won the Best Film (Tamil) in the 18th Filmfare Awards South (1971).
- Dharma Daata won the Best Film (Telugu) in the 18th Filmfare Awards South (1971).
- Vaazhve Mayam won the Best Film (Malayalam) in the 18th Filmfare Awards South (1971).
- Sri Krishnadevaraya won the Best Film (Kannada) in the 18th Filmfare Awards South (1971).
