The 42nd Filmfare Awards were held on 23 February 1997, in Mumbai, India.
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).
Nana Patekar received dual nominations for Best Actor for his performances in Agni Sakshi and Khamoshi: The Musical, but lost to Aamir Khan who won the award for Raja Hindustani.
Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger (‡).
Raja Hindustani Shekhar Kapoor – Bandit Queen Arbaaz Khan – Daraar Satish Kaushik – Saajan Chale Sasural Raja Hindustani – Nadeem-Shravan Papa Kehte Hai – Javed Akhtar for Ghar Se Nikalte Hi Raja Hindustani – Udit Narayan for Pardesi Pardesi Khamoshi: The Musical – Kavita Krishnamurthy for Aaj Main Upar Maachis – Gulzar Ghatak: Lethal – Rajkumar Santoshi Maachis – Gulzar Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi Dharmendra and Mumtaz Govinda, Nasir Hussain, Pran and Shobhna Samarth Vishal Bhardwaj – Maachis Khamoshi: The Musical Manisha Koirala – Khamoshi: The Musical Beyond the Himalayas