Abhishek defends skipping IIFA

11 June 2010 07:30 am - 37 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan, who missed the 11th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) event in Sri Lanka, defended his absence from the gala due to work commitments.

"I didn't skip the IIFA awards. I have been shooting in Istanbul for one of my films called 'Game' so unfortunately I couldn't attend it,"

Many Bollywood stars skipped IIFA this year including its brand ambassador Amitabh Bachchan as well as superstar Shah Rukh Khan and according to reports, they gave it a miss following a boycott call from the south Indian film industry.

A statement issued by the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce had said that southern stars and filmmakers would boycott all Bollywood stars who attend the IIFA in Colombo from June 3-5.

They have been campaigning against the island government and the alleged killing of civilian Tamils during the conflict between Sri Lankan army and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Releasing June 18, "Raavan" is a bilingual and has been directed by Mani Ratnam. Co-produced by Reliance Big Pictures and Madras Talkies, the movie also stars Aishwarya Rai and Tamil superstar Vikram, who makes his Bollywood debut with the movie. (Times of India)

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Comments - 37

Friday, 11 June 2010 10:34 AM

Size doesn't matter. A boycott is a boycott which sends the message across. In business u just can't neglect anyone.

Friday, 11 June 2010 09:09 AM

Most of the lankans are doing that.

Friday, 11 June 2010 09:13 AM

Tamil Nadu is lot more powerful but not because of its income generating capacity but rather the political clout it has at the centre due to coalition governments India has been having for the past 20+ years.
you shouldnt compare total income levels, compare per capita income levels and then you will know where Sri Lanka is compared to India, which is by the way ahead of India.
But you are correct about the masses, they do have a lot more people and there middle class itself is more than 14times the Sri Lankan population.

Friday, 11 June 2010 09:13 AM

So he didn't think of his commitments earlier! Only when the boycott call came they all seemed to be suddenly BUSY! Cowards!

Friday, 11 June 2010 09:15 AM

So he suddenly realized he had commitments! Coward

Friday, 11 June 2010 09:29 AM

It all boils down to personal gain... how much of income would they have lost in the event of a boycott of the new movie in the south??? Not worth talking much about these so called heroes .... only within the screen...

Friday, 11 June 2010 09:54 AM

well said. we dont have respect for our own people. lucky you have displayed that attitude.

Friday, 11 June 2010 09:58 AM

why dont you start producing some sri lankan tamil films ??

Friday, 11 June 2010 10:03 AM

Mabye we should also boycott 'Peace TV' as it is a known fact that the religion is not really peaceful but seeks the death of all kaffirs and infidels.

Friday, 11 June 2010 10:08 AM

Yes, we can.You think Sri Lanka is situated in a desert

Friday, 11 June 2010 09:08 AM

Hi ! Bachchan we Sri Lankans know the real reason man. Dont fool us.

Friday, 11 June 2010 10:35 AM

The usage of the word "traitors" , "patriots" and "cowards" are last resorts used by scoundrels to justify an unjustified and illegal cause or issue. Such terminology is widely used in dictatorial regimes such as Iran, Burma, Libya, Noth Korea and to a certain extent China. In Sri Lanka, the majority of Citizens, specifically the buddhist sinhalese have become blind sycophants to these causes and issues.

Friday, 11 June 2010 10:36 AM

Why should we stoop down the the levels of Terrorists ?? They Terrorized the Super stars to not to come and it is understood. But, we should not go down to the levels of the terrorists or there will be no difference between us. We are more civilized than these hooligans and it's time we show it. Not forgetting it was the Big B who actually gave the event to Sri Lanka - Thank him for that !

Friday, 11 June 2010 10:38 AM

We should not stoop down to the levels of Terrorists. Big B and others would have come if they were not Terrorized by the LTTE remaining Tails. We should Thank Big B for giving us the event - and forgive him for not coming due to reasons that are understood.

Friday, 11 June 2010 10:40 AM

It is not compulsory for you to watch Peace TV, the religion has nothing to do with this! dont mix up issues!

Friday, 11 June 2010 10:41 AM

who is going to produce?? even sinhala film industry is almost dead!

Friday, 11 June 2010 11:13 AM

Like father like son. Cowards.

Friday, 11 June 2010 11:15 AM

Now we don't need your petty excuses....without you and your father the event went very well...!!!...Thanks for not coming....cos we don't want terrorist sympathizers in our country....!!!

Friday, 11 June 2010 04:53 PM

Maybe, we should ban all Tamil films in Sri Lanka? After all, they were the ones, behind this mess.

Friday, 11 June 2010 08:17 AM

it funny that you people cant realise that tamil nadu is much more powerful than the sri lanka. the income or influence of sri lanka is nothing compared to chennai alone.
1,173,108,018 against 21,128,772

Friday, 11 June 2010 07:51 AM

What a colosal amount spent by the GOSL for this so called business commitments? Now we have to wait and see what his wife and brand ambassodor say about their commitments.

Friday, 11 June 2010 07:57 AM

Abishek, you, your wife and father all are coward.
Amitha Bachchan shoud walk naked in public the way he acted capitulating to pressure from Tamil Nadu.
Shame, Bachchan shame...

Friday, 11 June 2010 08:11 AM

Everyone knows the real reason. Don't worry about Sri Lankans. Tthey will never boycott your movies, because what else do they have.

Friday, 11 June 2010 08:11 AM

Sri Lanka government must officially call for boycott of all the south Indian movies for 2010 that includes " RAAVAN"

Friday, 11 June 2010 08:12 AM

your right my dear friend.

Friday, 11 June 2010 08:15 AM

Abishek - You, your wife and dad are just cowards. Don't give us lame excuses. After having spent such a colossal amount by the government expecting all the stars, they chicken out at the last minute. We Sri Lankans should boycott all Indian films. Are we man enough to do that???

Friday, 11 June 2010 08:16 AM

Big B and SHRK, you both had a great respect and regard amoungst Sri Lankan Fans, they do watch all you movies no matter what the story is and the language, but this time you have broken hearts of so many Fans and i feel shame about all the stars who boycotted this event, i am a person who did not have much like for Salman or Hrthrik, but always was Big B and SHRK, now i feel most of the Sri lankans have a Better Regard and Respect to Salman, Hrthik not forgeting Vivek, We are proud of you ,

And now we want to think twice of the boycotters, i dont like to see them even in an advertisment , shame on you !!!!!

Friday, 11 June 2010 08:17 AM

Let's not pay to watch but find a pirated version - then they won't earn a cent :)

Friday, 11 June 2010 07:51 AM

ok now so all the sri lankans will queue up to go watch "Raavan". Thats the way Sri Lankans are. they boycott Sri Lanka but we follow their movies and let them earn at will.

Friday, 11 June 2010 08:23 AM

The usual excuse given by anyone "Work commitements" Why cant you just say the truth that you gave into pressure from the south indian film industry.

Friday, 11 June 2010 08:24 AM

They are not cowards. It is not a shame for them. They respect the feeling of their own country people.

Friday, 11 June 2010 08:32 AM

Father & Son both are cardboard heros

Friday, 11 June 2010 08:39 AM

ha ha ha very funny sugestion. why dont you tell sri lankan govt to stop importing indian goods ....rice , dhal, potato etc etc ... can you survive?

Friday, 11 June 2010 08:41 AM

lets boycott south indian films !!!! i have no idea why we are not doing so. We need to look at this as Sri Lankans , not as tamils and sinhalese

Friday, 11 June 2010 08:42 AM

even if all the sri lankans around the world boycott hindi films , it wont have any effect on bollywood. think about the number of bollywood fans including indians, singaporeans, malaysians, usa, uk , canada etc etc.. against our entire population. mmmm... use your brains...

Friday, 11 June 2010 08:47 AM

Good one :)

Friday, 11 June 2010 08:57 AM

It is the quality that counts not the quantity

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Abhishek defends skipping IIFA

Comments - 37

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