While the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Utsavam got off to a colourful start in Hyderabad on Sunday with film stars from south film industry making it to the event, there are strong rumours afloat that Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao's son and IT minister K T Rama Rao was behind bringing the IIFA event to Hyderabad from global cities.
The event is being held in other countries for the past 16 years. Suddenly, the organisers have decided to conduct the event in India, that too in Hyderabad, which surprised one and all.
The event was originally scheduled in December 2015 but due to flash floods in Chennai, the event was postponed at the last minute on the suggestion of KCR then.
However, the organisers gave a second thought on holding the event in Hyderabad after postponement and considered other global cities as usual.
At this stage, KTR reportedly swung into action and offered Rs 30 crore from Telangana government side for the event.
This unusual offer for a private film event from the government side made organisers erupt with joy.
They immediately promised KTR that they would hold the event in Hyderabad itself this year and if the government extends the same support every year, they would make Hyderabad a permanent venue for IIFA.
But one wonders what made KTR to offer Rs 30 crore public money to hold a filmy event and whose purpose this will serve at a time when over 1,800 farmers committed suicide in Telangana State since TRS government took over and it is yet to give compensation of even Rs 1.50 lakh to majority of the families of farmers so far even though it announced of enhancing the compensation to Rs 6 lakh later.
Government sources say KTR wanted filmy event here as it would enhance the brand image of Hyderabad. But one wonders in what way the filmy event for which top stars gave a miss would contribute to the brand image of Hyderabad.
