The Times of India Film Awards

The Times of India Film Awards (better known simply as "TOIFA"), were the Bollywood film awards held at BC Place on April 6, 2013 for Bollywood stars to receive awards due to their roles in films . Categories of awards include: Best Actor - Male, Best Actor - Female, Best Male Actor in a Comic Role, Best Female Actor in a Comic Role, Best Director, Best Music Director, Best Film and many more. The people of Vancouver were blessed to have such a big show held in their city for the first time. The show was full of complete entertainment, however, an article from the Vancouver Sun states that there is a back story to TOIFA. According to Vancouver Sun, the B.C. government apparently took advantage of the Times of India Film Awards at BC Place in order to defend the ceremony’s multi-million-dollar cost to B.C. voters and also promote B.C. to the 400 million viewers that were expected to tune in from all over the world. B.C. Premier's Christy Clark opened TOIFA and stated to the 40,000 spectators, “Let’s use this wonderful celebration of Indian film to continue to build more bridges between us. More trade opportunities, more tourism and definitely more of your movies right here in beautiful British Columbia.” Critics of this event stated that TOIFA was a waste of money and was just an act to 'woo' attractions.

Personally, TOIFA was one of the best nights of my life. I am a huge fan of Bollywood and even if the government took advantage of the event, I enjoyed every minute of it, especially since I was sitting 2 wings away from the front stage. Judging from the 40,000 fans that screamed the auditorium down every time a Bollywood heartthrob appeared on stage or on the screen, I find it diffcult to believe that the event was a flop, according to the so-called 'critics.' However, I will agree with critcs that it was an act to attract audiences all over the world, because due to it being such a big event and consisting of popular Bollywood stars, of course fans from other parts of the globe would come to attend the spectacle, and I would be surprised if they didn't. The evening lasted 4 hours of dance performances, speeches, and laughs, and all I can say is I've never enjoyed such 4 hours in my life and my $500 ticket was well worth it.

Poster to promote TOIFA

Shahrukh Khan, the king of Bollywood, rules the stage at TOIFA!










Article Source:
- "Province uses TOIFA Awards to defend spending on Bollywood show" by Christopher Reynolds, special to the Vancouver Sun, on April 8, 2013
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/province+uses+toifa+awards+defend+spending+bollywood+show/8207090/story.html

Photo Sources:
- http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1914&bih=974&q=toifa+awards&oq=toifa+awards&gs_l=img.3..0l10.6406.8764.0.8943.12.6.0.6.6.0.38.208.6.6.0...0.0...1ac.1.12.img.TBQB-s1J764#hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=srk+toifa+performance&oq=srk+toifa+performance&gs_l=img.3..0i24.598719.602554.0.602735.21.9.0.12.12.0.73.371.9.9.0...0.0...1c.1.12.img.wty0y42Xvbc&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.45960087,d.cGE&fp=35e5ff338e7db88d&biw=1914&bih=974&imgrc=Zx2APqQZ03uRQM%3A%3B4D1NWNHt1iOrqM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fimages.memsaab.com%252Ffiles%252Fimagecache%252Fnode-gallery-display-750%252Ffiles%252F2013%252F156512%252Fshahrukh-playing-guitar-photo-clicked-toifa.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.memsaab.com%252Fgallery%252Fbollywood-stars-dance-performance-toifa%252Fshahrukh-playing-guitar-photo-clicked-toifa%3B531%3B560

- http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1914&bih=974&q=toifa+awards&oq=toifa+awards&gs_l=img.3..0l10.6406.8764.0.8943.12.6.0.6.6.0.38.208.6.6.0...0.0...1ac.1.12.img.TBQB-s1J764#imgrc=KGLBKUxOmkI-RM%3A%3BKF_7-JcKqzfumM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.darpanmagazine.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2013%252F02%252FTOIFA-logo.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.darpanmagazine.com%252F2013%252F02%252Fthe-times-of-india-film-awards-celebrates-international-womens-day%252F%3B300%3B299