First iifa Utsavam will be in Hyd!

In a landmark decision, the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) has announced the first ever ‘IIFA Utsavam’ that is a celebration of South Indian cinema. The three-day event will debut at Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad on December 4.

Encompassing four film industries of South India; the Tamil, the Telugu, the Malayalam and the Kannada, the cinema of South India is being celebrated as a single entity.

South Indian Cinema film stars showed their support by voting for their favourite movies and talent at the IIFA Utsavam Voting Day and announcement event held at Park Hyatt on Tuesday. Among the biggest names of South Indian cinema Prakash Raj, Rana and Venkatesh were among the first to cast their vote.

IIFA Utsavam’s illustrious Advisory Board comprises eminent personalities that include AR Rahman, Kamal Hassan, Suresh Babu, KS Rama Rao, Boney Kapoor, Nagarjuna, Allu Aravind, Resul Pookutty, RB Choudhary, Ram Kumar, Mukesh, Sibi Malayil, B Unnikrishnan, Ramesh Aravind and Radikaa Sharathkumar.

Commenting on the event, AR Rahman said, “Truly IIFA Utsavam is going to be a huge event for the Indian Film Industry and the entire fraternity is looking forward to it. With the attention it is going to receive, I am sure it will change the way how South Indian cinema is perceived not only in India but world over.”

Kamal Haasan said, “Given the global acclaim of the IIFA platform I am confident that ‘IIFA Utsavam’ will become an instant opportunity for greater recognition to South Indian film industries and our work. Having participated at previous IIFA Weekends, it is a truly impressive and world class brand to be associated with.”

Suresh Babu said, “IIFA Utsavam marks the beginning of an incredible journey where the diversity of South Indian Cinema can come alive onto one common stage.”

To select and felicitate the best and most deserving talent, nominees would be selected through film industry voting. A global voting process would determine the winners of the Popular Awards and Jury Voting would determine the winners of the Technical Awards.

Speaking at the Voting Day, IIFA Utsavam Director Andre Timmins said, “IIFA Utsavam has been conceptualised to specially give due credit and honour the prolific body of work and brilliance of the Cinema of South India.”