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| Lachman Balani Financial Advisor |
Even though many South Asians in the GTA are euphoric about the upcoming International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in Toronto, I wish to express my opinion (and those of several others) from a different angle.
Why has the Ontario government apportioned so much money for hosting the IIFA awards here in Toronto ? What is the benefit to Ontarians and Canada at large? According to the official IIFA website, the event is supposed to draw 40,000 visitors. Repeat -40,000 only*. Shouldn’t that money be diverted to the underfunded Gay Pride and Caribana festivals that draw over a million visitors? I feel that Ontario’s taxpayers’ money has been abused to enrich a few Indian actors who are already rich. That money will surely be whisked away from Canada.
To add insult to injury, we taxpayers are being further milked for $40 by Rogers to watch the IIFA awards being beamed live. Why? Haven’t we been taken advantage of enough? The original Oscars are broadcast free of charge all over the world, yet we must pay for the ‘Indian Oscars?’
Besides, IIFA’s motto is ‘One people, one world’. Shouldn’t they be spreading this word and the Indian Bollywood culture to the rest of the world for FREE, especially to those who are hosting them? The GTA is home to people of many diverse cultures and backgrounds and this would be an excellent opportunity to show them what our Indian Bollywood culture is all about. Instead they choose to charge us which in all probability will exclude other nationalities. It has already excluded many South Asians who are scrimping and saving to make ends meet. So much for their ‘One people, one world’ theme.
Furthermore, for those who wish to pay and watch the IIFA awards live, there are no tickets available and not because the venue cannot accommodate the demand but because the promoters have chosen to limit the seats to 22,000(according to a Toronto Star article)** in a venue that can seat more than 50,000 people. A viewing of the seating on ticketmaster.ca will also corroborate that only part of Rogers Centre has been booked. In other words, even those who can afford the tickets are being turned away.
It’s a real shame that IIFA has not taken full advantage of this golden opportunity to showcase Bollywood to all the diverse people in what is considered to be the most multi-cultural city in the world. In keeping with their claim to many firsts, IIFA should have teamed up with the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), purportedly the planet’s second largest international film festival, and presented their workshops, buzz events and their awards during TIFF, thus boosting a very Canadian festival, and making it more accessible to the extremely varied audience that our wonderful festival attracts. This partnership would also be very much in alignment with their concept of ‘one world, one people.’ It is a super shame that Ontario has decided to use our tax dollars to make rich foreign actors even richer instead of enriching our long standing festivals which would be more beneficial for Ontarians.
** http://www.thestar.com/article/1002699--siddiqui-vast-indian-diaspora-builds-bridges?sms_ss=twitter&at_xt=4debd8479ade1ce1%2C0#article
* http://www.iifa.com/toronto2011/newsupdate_article3.html#article2
Lachman Balani
Financial Advisor
Cell: 416-902-3580
lbalani2000@yahoo.ca
I agree with most of your article. However, I consider the fact that taxpayers helping pay for this a long term investment and a good thing. Gay Pride and Caribana have already grown to their peak and they are not for everyone. We need look to new avenues to broaden culture so that there is something for everyone.
ReplyDeleteThis has potential to grow annually.