Mumbai, Feb 17 (IANS) A total of 111 films are competing in 37 categories at the 55th Filmfare Awards 2009 to be held here Feb 27, an organiser said here Wednesday night.

'It's been a fantastic journey for the past 55 years. So much has changed in the film industry and so much has changed with the awards function too. Fifty-five years ago, we started with three categories and a handful of films and today we have got 37 categories and 111 films participating,' Tarun Rai, CEO of Worldwide Media Pvt Ltd, told IANS.

'So it's a completely different scale and it's also fascinating in terms of kind of movies that are actually there for nomination this time,' he said.

The nomination for each category is absolutely based on reader's poll.

'It wasn't difficult to nominate films or film personalities in any category because it was done through reader's poll. A huge number of people read our magazines around the country and we also have filmfare.com and it's been visited by millions of people not just in India but also across the world. For us it was easy. It will be difficult for the jury to choose one among the five in each category,' Rai said.

Packed with entertainment, the award night would be attended by almost 500 people from the industry, including all the leading stars, he said.

'There are almost 500 people from the industry who would be present that night including the leading stars and the evening would be packed with glamour, great performances, suspense and excitement...it's going to be a riot,' said Rai.

Top stars are going to perform this year on stage, he added.

Worldwide Media Pvt Ltd continues its association this year with the mobile operator Idea Cellular.