With only a few days to go, politics, star schedules and protests are threatening to dampen one of the biggest events on the Indian film industry calendar.
Controversy surrounding the Sri Lankan capital Colombo as this year's choice of venue for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards is coming to a head as more stars back out and major names, such as Amitabh Bachchan, refuse to confirm or deny their attendance.
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan this week joined an increasing list of stars to back out of this premiere international event. Other celebrities who have confirmed their absence include power-couple Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, actor Arjun Rampal, South Indian stars Rajnikant and Kamal Hassan and director Mani Ratnam.
Sri Lanka as a choice of venue has been vehemently opposed by pro-Tamil groups ever since the announcement was made in April. Many in the South Indian film industry hold the island nation's government responsible for the alleged killing of Tamil civilians at the height of the conflict between the country's army and members of the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) last year.
While Khan has tweeted about not being able to attend due to "too much work", Hassan and Rajnikant, both Tamilians, have openly protested against the venue choice and cited it as a reason for their absence. Other Tamil stars have followed suit.
Opting out
Ratnam, also a Tamilian, whose latest film, Raavan, was widely anticipated to screen at the event, has opted out, claiming the film wasn't ready. The film's leads, real-life couple Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, have also announced they will not be attending the event, citing scheduling conflicts.
Incidentally, Ratnam's critically acclaimed 2002 film Kannathil Muthamittal is based on the Sri Lankan strife, told through the eyes of a child.
The IIFA awards is a travelling awards show held annually to honour the best in Indian cinema. Many cities around the world, including Dubai, have played host in the past.
On Saturday, the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, an organisation that claims to represent film bodies across four states, called for a boycott of the event.
It said it is not against the awards ceremony but against the event being organised in Sri Lanka. "We request the brothers in the North Indian film industry not to attend the IIFA awards. The same view is endorsed by all the artistes, producers, distributors and exhibitors of four southern states chambers of commerce," the statement added.
Bollywood loosely refers to the Mumbai film industry, with the regional industries, especially in the south, forming their own, although much smaller, industries. The distinction is made because of the different languages spoken .
Earlier this month, Pro-Tamil groups camped outside film icon Amitabh Bachchan's residence in Mumbai, demanding he withdraw the event from Sri Lanka. Bachchan, one of the most respected names in the industry, is IIFA's brand ambassador. While he has shown empathy towards the Tamil cause, he has not confirmed or denied his attendance.
Meanwhile, a host of other stars including nominees Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra have been scheduled to attend the three-day film extravaganza. Actors and film personalities will also spend the IIFA weekend, as the event has been called, raising funds for charities and attending deliberations — before the gala awards night on June 5.
‘Pressuring stars'
This is the first time in the awards' 11-year history that a choice of venue has caused controversy.
The developing situation is being watched closely by the Sri Lankan government, desperate to showcase the country as a viable tourist destination after years of strife. It was only in May last year, after almost 30 years of unrest, with the LTTE waging wars against successive governments, that Sri Lanka officially announced an end to insurgency.
"Some small group in Tamil Nadu is bringing pressure on some stars, dissuading them from attending the International Indian Film Academy Awards function," Deputy Minister for Economic Development Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, who is associated with the event, told reporters on Monday.
"About 97 per cent of the top stars have confirmed with the exception of Amitabh Bachchan and his family," he said without giving further details.
By the time of going to print, event organiser Wizcraft International Entertainment had not responded to tabloid!'s requests for a comment.
International celebrities who have attended the IIFA Awards in the past:
- Kylie Minogue
- Jackie Chan
- Angelina Jolie
- Peter Andre
Other Awards
The National Film Awards: One of the most coveted awards for those in the Indian film industry, the National Film Awards, established in 1954, is one of the oldest film awards in the country. Presided over by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals, the President of India gives away the awards every year. Due to its scale, the Awards are considered to be the equivalent of the American Academy Awards.
Filmfare Awards: Founded in 1954 and named after Filmfare, one of India's biggest- selling entertainment magazines, the Filmfare Awards are modelled after the poll-based merit format of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which votes for the Oscars. Despite being one of the most well-attended events, the Filmfare Awards have often been criticised for recognising films that are commercially successful rather than artistic merit.
Star Screen Awards: Started by The Express Group, which owns The Indian Express, an English daily, in 1994, the Star Screen Awards has positioned itself as award that is given by the film fraternity to its own.
The Zee Cine Awards: Founded in 1998 by broadcaster the Zee Network, the event has also gone international and has even been held in Dubai.
