Bollywood film gala in Colombo faces boycott
Last Updated: Thursday, June 3, 2010 | 4:48 PM ET
CBC News
Seen at a recent event in Mumbai are, from left, actor Hrithik Roshan, Sri Lankan politician Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara and actors Sunil Shetty and Sanjay Dutt. (Rajanish Kakade/Associated Press) Some of India's biggest movie stars are making their way to Sri Lanka this week, as its capital gets ready to host Bollywood's travelling annual film awards gala.
Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt and Preity Zinta are among the celebrities slated to appear at the International Indian Film Academy Awards as well as the various events leading up to the big ceremony in Colombo. The celebration runs Thursday through Saturday.
However, this year's event faces controversy after members of the Bollywood film community from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu called for a boycott, citing military violence against ethnic Tamils, who are a minority on the island. The South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce has even threatened to boycott movies starring or made by those who attend the awards in Colombo.
Bollywood's famed Bachchan family members — from left, Amitabh, Jaya, Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan — are reportedly among those not attending this year's awards. (Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images) Several of Bollywood's biggest stars are reportedly not attending this year's festivities, including actor Shah Rukh Khan. The academy's main ambassador, Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, is also rumoured to be too busy to attend this year, as are his actor son Abhishek Bachchan and actress and beauty queen daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan.
Despite the event being somewhat "challenged" this year, organizer Sabbas Joseph said he is convinced any issues will be overcome.
"I applaud you for your courage and conviction in facing those challenges and showing up in Sri Lanka," he added, addressing the Indian actors who had already arrived in Colombo.
The Bollywood awards extravaganza visits a different international city each year, with hundreds of Indian film industry insiders travelling to the host location. Aside from the glitzy awards show, the weekend-long conference includes film screenings, performances, charity events and industry sessions.
The 2011 will be held in Toronto, the first time the celebration will have travelled to North America. Past cities that hosted the awards include London, Johannesburg, Amsterdam, Dubai, Bangkok and Macau.
With files from The Associated PressShare Tools
FILM REVIEW: Men in Black 3 by Eli Glasner May. 25, 2012 11:40 AM Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are back in the action sequel Men in Black 3, a third instalment of a series now 15 years old. Though new addition Josh Brolin manages some amazing mimicry as a younger version of Jones, the story doesn't measure up to the weird and wonderful charms of the original, says film reviewer Eli Glasner.
Top News Headlines
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges
- The estranged partner of a young mother who was stabbed to death along with her parents at their home in Aylmer, Que., has been charged with first-degree murder Friday. more »
- Wildfires, high winds put northeastern Ontario on alert
- It's going to be a tense weekend in northeastern Ontario where strong, shifting winds have been fuelling a forest fire that has blanketed the Timmins area with smoke and ash. more »
- Labrador fire out of control
- A forest fire continues to burn out of control in Happy Valley-Goose Bay today, according to provincial firefighting officials. more »
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest
- The deaths of five climbers last weekend on Mt. Everest, with more summits underway this weekend, fuels the debate about the risks and responsibilities of high altitude climbing. more »
Latest Arts & Entertainment News Headlines
- Modern and traditional art scores at Joyner auction
- Both traditional and modern works fared well at Joyner Waddington's spring art auction in Toronto, with buyers snapping up lots by Group of Seven members as well as more contemporary artists. more »
- Prophetic Cosmopolis premieres at Cannes
- David Cronenberg says he didn't anticipate the Occupy Wall Street movement as he prepared to shoot Cosmopolis, his new film which made its world premiere Friday at the Cannes Film Festival in southern France. more »
- Jennifer Egan's newest story debuts on Twitter
- The latest short story from Pulitzer-winning writer Jennifer Egan is emerging 140 characters at a time via Twitter. more »
- Miller Brittain sketches restored by museum
- Canadian artist and social satirist Miller Brittain's larger than life chalk drawings may once again hang in Saint John. more »
Q Blog
Toni Morrison on her two selves May. 25, 2012 5:57 PM Jian speaks with the celebrated African American author and academic about her two conflicting selves, and her new novel, Home.
CBC Books
Talking about war May. 25, 2012 4:57 PM The public conversation around war has always been complex and thorny. How does Canada's military approach differ from that of other countries? Are we a society of peacekeepers or warriors? These are some of the questions that Noah Richler explores in his new book What We Talk About When We Talk About War.
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges
- Everest victim's husband says family not seeking government help
- B.C. premier unhappy with disgraced Mountie's transfer
- Canada ending 'Buffalo shuffle' for visas, closing consulate
- What a Greek euro exit could mean for Canada
- Third B.C. salmon farm quarantined
- RCMP officer charged in fatal crash
- Police probe Halifax homicide after shooting
- Ottawa man in hospital after lightning strike
