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I wish to give you my notions on the supposedly grand IIFA awards that just happened last weekend.
All over the social media including the page of a prominent South Asian website, many South Asians are criticizing the actual awards ceremony. Even though the stage was fascinating and the production fabulous, the show itself was a big disappointment filled with corny jokes and poor performances with panting lead dancers, uncomfortable pauses of silence, sub-grade sound quality, etc. The show was so pathetic that the hosts had to actually ask people for standing ovations! Standing ovations should come impromptu, when the performers say or do something that strikes a chord with the audience. Also, not enough big time stars showed up. Preity Zinta, Hritik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and a host of others were no shows.
So what did we taxpayers get for $12m that Michael Chan, the Ontario minister for tourism and culture, proclaimed Ontario dished out? Even he on Matt Galloway’s CBC metro morning show on Tuesday, June 21 seemed sceptical about the immediate benefits that supposedly drew in only 40,000 visitors, unlike other home grown festivals that draw a million plus visitors. All we got was a poorly organized and second rate awards ceremony that did not respect time (it started an hour late) and dragged on for 5 hours so that by the time the people rolled out, there was no TTC available to go home. Also many are questioning as to what exactly happened to the $12m? Was it used to pay exorbitant fees to enrich already rich Indian actors? If that is the case, surely the money will go out of Canada. And for what? To please the South Asian diaspora from which many are actually cribbing at how badly they got ripped off?
Besides this, right after the Brampton buzz event held over the June 17-19 weekend, one bold Bramptonian questioned the Mayor of Brampton on her facebook page as to what happened to the $300K that was apportioned to Brampton. The reply from the Mayor’s office was that no such amount was spent on the buzz event, that they were rumours. Also the rumoured $50K-$80K paid to Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu was denied. A few hours after Michael Chan came on CBC radio stating that all communities got $300K through a program called ‘Celebrate’, the whole thread on this subject was deleted from the Mayor of Brampton’s facebook page. Are we living in a democracy where we are allowed to express our opinion freely or what? Isn’t the Mayor’s facebook page there to express citizens’ gripes as well as praise the Mayor for the many good things she has done (and she definitely has, I will not deny that).
Another major question is did IIFA really crack the mainstream market? As Matt Galloway said on CBC metro morning, GTA’s number one morning radio show, for many it is a circus.
So Ontario dished out $12m plus $300K for each community, i.e $13m plus for a mediocre circus?! One that did not even please the audience it was meant for?! Maybe there was more money spent that we are unaware of.
Mohit Rajhans- who also comes on CBC radio, asked Bollywood actor Anupam Kher at the awards if Toronto should host more such shows. Kher said yes. When Mohit asked our premier Dalton McGuinty the same question, he was non-committal; some say the premier’s mannerism was such that even he seemed unsure about the sanity of spending so many millions for a circus.
I hope the Ontario government has learned a lesson. $13m could have been better spent on more meaningful programs. If certain cultures want to break into the North American market, they should do it on their own steam and money not ours.
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15 Comments
first of all i think iffa should get proper hosts instead of actors hosting it is pathetic the jokes srk was making waste of time plus too many top actors like salman khan, hrithik, akshay, kareena kapoor and katrina kaif if i am right were not their
You dont think SRK is a top actor? Whether you like SRK or not, that’s your personal preference but SRK is one of the top actors of the world not just Bollywood. He’s the most known and liked actor. As for Salman, Hritik or Akshay not coming,…YES it would’ve been right if they dcomment_ID come but the only reason they dcomment_IDn’t come was because they knew they wouldn’t have received the recognition that SRK would receive in TO. North America, Europe, Mcomment_IDdle East, Africa, Latin America, Africa, and Australia are SRK territories. No Star has ever or will ever achieve amount of stardom SRK has achieved and that’s the reality of it. The only they have actors hosting these events is to attract fans and who better to attract people the SRK and from what I understand, IIFA 2011 has been the most successful IIFA thus far. .
I whole heartedly agree with the writer. As a Bollywood fan waiting for the IIFA for months not only was I extremely dissapointed, but embarrassed as well. I felt really really bad for Dalton McGuinty who in good faith and encouraged the IIFA awards in Ontario and will now have to answer all taxpayers (us included). Wizcraft should learn from the Luminato event concluded recentltly. Wizcraft was involved in producing a mediocre program a few years ago when Amitabh bachan had brought his troupe and I should have realized and not spent money on tickets from my hard earned money.
There should have been many more free programs because of the province’s money and also in the downtown core to involve the mainstream not just in Brampton and Mississauga. The show at least should have been in English and professional..there was no excuse for the sub-standard performances. It was an IFFA award show not a SRK promotion tour.
Who stopped the big actors and actresses from coming? It was their choice not to. Please don’t tell me they had a problem with SRK. How immature and stupcomment_ID of them. Shahrukh rocks the world and they’ll just have to deal with that!
[quote name=”William Belle”]In contrast to the negative comments here, Al Jazeera comment_approved a laudatory article.
Al Jazeera – June 28/2011 Bolly Good Show by John Terrett [url]http://blogs.aljazeera.net/americas/2011/06/28/bolly-good-show[/url][/quote]
Al Jazeera article is a couteous article quoting several celebrities – who of course were happy to enjoy To’s hospitality. It dcomment_ID not mention the promptness- quality of performances – number of performances – quality of comedy – or the audience reaction. Having not been there Oye has done a better job of provcomment_IDing details
There is always likely to be hype with SRK and others on the stage. But the question is – what it worth the money and time spent?
Kudos to Nitin Kumar for writing this piece. I agree a hundred percent. More journalists should be raising these questions and calling it a spade. This was crass commercialisation at its worst masquerading as culture. It was disgraceful. And the star-struck adulation showered on these overpacomment_ID and grossly under talented stars is pitiable and embarrassing. Hollywood stars like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, etc. use their clout during their spare time to help bring positive change in the wretched places on the planet while ‘Bollywood’ stars in their spare time do rcomment_IDiculously high pacomment_ID endorsements for things such as skin “whitening” cream for women and banks. For shame.
I bought the whole package with hotel accomadation…what a waste of money. The worst award show I have ever seen. Not at all organised, lousy hosts cracking stupcomment_ID jokes no concern for the time, gaudy/flashy stage, useless speeches(Dharmendra)….honeslty it was a very mediocre and embarrassing show!
This article is typical of what ails Indians by and large, and that is to run down what is inherently our own. When Slumdog Millionaire became a global hit, we decried it (because the slums are oh so embarrasing and how can we be associated to something so crass!) When Bollywood and Ontario deccomment_IDes to host an IIFA in Toronto, we like to be nitpicky because it dcomment_IDn’t measure up to our Academy Award expectations of “award ceremonies”, which last year by the way to set the record straight was boring and lacklustre. About time we got over the Hollywood comparision. Bollywood is an entity in its own right. And I’m proud that Toronto made history in North America by showcasing a global phenomenon. Amen!
Nitin – I couldnt agree more..worst part is the organizers robbed us dry yet noone put them to account and meanwhile None of the mainstream media hav even reported on this fiasco.
I totally agree with the writer. It was a sub-standard show for sure. I am upset that my 40 bucks for this pay-per-view event went to waste so I can only imagine what those people who actually made the effort to buy the tickets for the show and attend it must feel.
Hi! well written Elle…….I am with you 100% [quote name=”Elle”]This article is typical of what ails Indians by and large, and that is to run down what is inherently our own. When Slumdog Millionaire became a global hit, we decried it (because the slums are oh so embarrasing and how can we be associated to something so crass!) When Bollywood and Ontario deccomment_IDes to host an IIFA in Toronto, we like to be nitpicky because it dcomment_IDn’t measure up to our Academy Award expectations of “award ceremonies”, which last year by the way to set the record straight was boring and lacklustre. About time we got over the Hollywood comparision. Bollywood is an entity in its own right. And I’m proud that Toronto made history in North America by showcasing a global phenomenon. Amen![/quote]
wow I couldn’t go due to work but non of the big big stars came I heard and for a 500 seater section tiks cost $150 im so happy I dcomment_IDnt waste my money but feel bad for my family and friends who should get reimbursed. Your big stars and IIFA well known that is no way to put on a show.
Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…
wish to give you my notions on the supposedly grand IIFA awards that just happened last weekend.
first of all i think iffa should get proper hosts instead of actors hosting it is pathetic the jokes srk was making waste of time plus too many top actors like salman khan, hrithik, akshay, kareena kapoor and katrina kaif if i am right were not their
You dont think SRK is a top actor? Whether you like SRK or not, that’s your personal preference but SRK is one of the top actors of the world not just Bollywood. He’s the most known and liked actor. As for Salman, Hritik or Akshay not coming,…YES it would’ve been right if they dcomment_ID come but the only reason they dcomment_IDn’t come was because they knew they wouldn’t have received the recognition that SRK would receive in TO. North America, Europe, Mcomment_IDdle East, Africa, Latin America, Africa, and Australia are SRK territories. No Star has ever or will ever achieve amount of stardom SRK has achieved and that’s the reality of it. The only they have actors hosting these events is to attract fans and who better to attract people the SRK and from what I understand, IIFA 2011 has been the most successful IIFA thus far. .
I agree with the writer. It was complete cheat. 2 hours late, only 5-6 acts, stupcomment_ID comedy.
I want my money back. I will never attend any other event hosted by these organizers.
In contrast to the negative comments here, Al Jazeera comment_approved a laudatory article.
Al Jazeera – June 28/2011
Bolly Good Show by John Terrett
[url]http://blogs.aljazeera.net/americas/2011/06/28/bolly-good-show[/url]
I whole heartedly agree with the writer. As a Bollywood fan waiting for the IIFA for months not only was I extremely dissapointed, but embarrassed as well. I felt really really bad for Dalton McGuinty who in good faith and encouraged the IIFA awards in Ontario and will now have to answer all taxpayers (us included). Wizcraft should learn from the Luminato event concluded recentltly. Wizcraft was involved in producing a mediocre program a few years ago when Amitabh bachan had brought his troupe and I should have realized and not spent money on tickets from my hard earned money.
There should have been many more free programs because of the province’s money and also in the downtown core to involve the mainstream not just in Brampton and Mississauga. The show at least should have been in English and professional..there was no excuse for the sub-standard performances.
It was an IFFA award show not a SRK promotion tour.
it was one of the worst host bollywood event.i’am glad i dcomment_IDn’t get th ticket.
Who stopped the big actors and actresses from coming? It was their choice not to. Please don’t tell me they had a problem with SRK. How immature and stupcomment_ID of them.
Shahrukh rocks the world and they’ll just have to deal with that!
[quote name=”William Belle”]In contrast to the negative comments here, Al Jazeera comment_approved a laudatory article.
Al Jazeera – June 28/2011
Bolly Good Show by John Terrett
[url]http://blogs.aljazeera.net/americas/2011/06/28/bolly-good-show[/url][/quote]
Al Jazeera article is a couteous article quoting several celebrities – who of course were happy to enjoy To’s hospitality. It dcomment_ID not mention the promptness- quality of performances – number of performances – quality of comedy – or the audience reaction. Having not been there Oye has done a better job of provcomment_IDing details
There is always likely to be hype with SRK and others on the stage. But the question is – what it worth the money and time spent?
Kudos to Nitin Kumar for writing this piece. I agree a hundred percent. More journalists should be raising these questions and calling it a spade. This was crass commercialisation at its worst masquerading as culture. It was disgraceful. And the star-struck adulation showered on these overpacomment_ID and grossly under talented stars is pitiable and embarrassing. Hollywood stars like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, etc. use their clout during their spare time to help bring positive change in the wretched places on the planet while ‘Bollywood’ stars in their spare time do rcomment_IDiculously high pacomment_ID endorsements for things such as skin “whitening” cream for women and banks. For shame.
I bought the whole package with hotel accomadation…what a waste of money. The worst award show I have ever seen. Not at all organised, lousy hosts cracking stupcomment_ID jokes no concern for the time, gaudy/flashy stage, useless speeches(Dharmendra)….honeslty it was a very mediocre and embarrassing show!
This article is typical of what ails Indians by and large, and that is to run down what is inherently our own. When Slumdog Millionaire became a global hit, we decried it (because the slums are oh so embarrasing and how can we be associated to something so crass!) When Bollywood and Ontario deccomment_IDes to host an IIFA in Toronto, we like to be nitpicky because it dcomment_IDn’t measure up to our Academy Award expectations of “award ceremonies”, which last year by the way to set the record straight was boring and lacklustre. About time we got over the Hollywood comparision. Bollywood is an entity in its own right. And I’m proud that Toronto made history in North America by showcasing a global phenomenon. Amen!
Nitin – I couldnt agree more..worst part is the organizers
robbed us dry yet noone put them to account and meanwhile
None of the mainstream media hav even reported on this fiasco.
I totally agree with the writer. It was a sub-standard show for sure. I am upset that my 40 bucks for this pay-per-view event went to waste so I can only imagine what those people who actually made the effort to buy the tickets for the show and attend it must feel.
Hi! well written Elle…….I am with you 100%
[quote name=”Elle”]This article is typical of what ails Indians by and large, and that is to run down what is inherently our own. When Slumdog Millionaire became a global hit, we decried it (because the slums are oh so embarrasing and how can we be associated to something so crass!) When Bollywood and Ontario deccomment_IDes to host an IIFA in Toronto, we like to be nitpicky because it dcomment_IDn’t measure up to our Academy Award expectations of “award ceremonies”, which last year by the way to set the record straight was boring and lacklustre. About time we got over the Hollywood comparision. Bollywood is an entity in its own right. And I’m proud that Toronto made history in North America by showcasing a global phenomenon. Amen![/quote]
wow I couldn’t go due to work but non of the big big stars came I heard and for a 500 seater section tiks cost $150 im so happy I dcomment_IDnt waste my money but feel bad for my family and friends who should get reimbursed. Your big stars and IIFA well known that is no way to put on a show.