Rajasthan govt’s Rs 100 crore sponsorship of film awards questioned

The file to allot Rs 100 crore to sponsor a ‘film awards’ event, the Opposition alleged in the assembly, moved at lightening speed and questioned what the state gained from the two-day event.

The International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA), the annual event promoted and produced by event management company Wizcraft International Entertainment Private Limited, was being hosted in India for only the second time. Instituted in 2000, the ceremony has mostly been held abroad barring in Mumbai in 2024. Organisers reportedly turned to India after struggling to secure sponsorship for hosting the event abroad.

The Rajasthan government, as the main sponsor, agreed to allocate Rs 100 crore for the event at Jaipur, which, it claimed, would promote Rajasthan tourism as part of a brand-building exercise. The event was however branded as "Sobha Realty and Nexa Show," overshadowing Rajasthan government as the key sponsor.

The leader of the opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly Tikaram Jully raised the issue in the Vidhan Sabha and asked, "Did IIFA promote itself or Rajasthan? Golden passes worth Rs Seven lakh in all, seven passes each priced at Rupees one lakh, were given to the Rajasthan government for distribution; even ministers did not receive these passes, leave alone the opposition… The event did not feel like a promotion of Rajasthan. All banners and hoardings were for IIFA. What did Rajasthan gain from this?"

The deputy chief minister Diya Kumari, who also oversees the Finance, PWD, and Tourism & Culture portfolios, took an active interest in the event and is said to have secured special approvals and exemptions for the event. While the Rajasthan Rising event in December, 2024 was stopped before 10 PM, the IIFA event was allowed to continue until 3:30 AM, violating existing regulations. The state government mobilised Rs 20 crore from the Rajasthan Industrial and Investment Corporation (RIICO), Rs 30 crore from the Tourism Department and the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and Rs 50 crore as grant from the state government.

The Opposition questioned the misplaced priorities of the state government and Jully pointed out that Rs 100 crore allocated for the development of Khatu Shyamji temple in Sikar district has barely seen any activity or expenditure even as the film awards event was expedited on top priority. Demanding greater transparency and accountability from the state government, Jully asked the state government to make the MoU with Wizcraft to be made public for scrutiny. “How much did Sobha Realty and Nexa contributed to the event as key sponsors, especially when they appear to have got away with more publicity and a more dominant presence at the event,” he went on to ask.

"Was this event for Rajasthan’s benefit, or was it just a dance and music show? We need accountability on how much money was given to the actors, organizations, and promotional activities," he questioned, "Did any actor visit Rajasthan’s tourist spots?”

Singer and music director Sonu Nigam added to the swirling controversy with his social media post thanking IIFA and adding, “"After all, you were answerable to the Rajasthan bureaucracy." He had tagged a screenshot of this year’s nominees who included Arijit Singh, Karan Aujla, Diljit Dosanjh, Badshah, Jubin Nautiyal, and Mitraz. Nigam had delivered the hit track "Mere Dholna 3.0" from Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. While Shreya Ghoshal won the Best Female Singer award for the same song, Nigam was miffed apparently at not being even nominated. The best male singer award went to Jubin Nautiyal for "Dua" from Article 370.

Nigam, however, seemed to be also referring to an earlier incident when Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma had walked out midway through his performance at the Rajasthan Rising event in December,2024. Nigam had made a caustic comment or two and the bureaucracy appeared to have decided to bar his participation in the IIFA event.

Jully rattled the ruling party by claiming that barring Shah Rukh Khan, the event had failed to invite top grade actors in Hindi films. BJP MLAs accused him of belittling the contribution of film artistes and referred to the presence of Madhuri Dixit.