The Filmfare Awards is feeling the heat. So to maintain their exclusivity and distinction, this year the Filmfare Awards will be a small black tie event with only the cream of the industry allowed in.

"We want to make the Filmfare Awards a close-knit event for the film fraternity to interact with each other. These days, award functions are not exclusive for film personalities, who have to rub shoulders with income-tax officers and politicians and their families.

There are about 7,000 guests at any award function and everyone is allowed in. This is our attempt to bring back a level of dignity and credibility to award functions in the country. So this year's Filmfare Awards will only be of the fraternity, for the fraternity and by the fraternity" says a member on the board of Filmfare.

The function will be an indoor event for the first time ever, the venue being the Yash Raj Studios at Andheri.

"The venue is in complete contrast to our previous venues which were huge grounds around the city. We have only sent out 700 invitations, 500 of which are to celebrities. No guests will be allowed in. The cards have the names of the celebrities embossed on them, so they won't be transferable," adds Filmfare's board member.

Press will be allowed in, but only on the red carpet. Unfortunately, there won't be enough space for them in the Studio 1 of Yash Raj, where the awards will be conducted," adds the board member.

Celebrities are extremely excited about this formal Oscar-like affair apparently. The member says, " the celebrities are thrilled that they will have some privacy with their own fraternity.

They are busy losing weight and contacting their designers to figure out what to wear. No sneakers, no jeans or casuals will be allowed. It's going to be a stylish event with Kareena Kapoor and Preity Zinta opting for gowns."

Another striking change in this function is that there will be no live performances. Performances will be recorded separately, interspersed with the show when it is televised. The jury has both national as well as internationally renowned personalities.