International Indian Film Academy Awards 2017

International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) Utsavam 2017 Press Meet

~Fortune Sunflower Oil IIFA Utsavam is Co-Presented by Hero Maestro Edge and Powered by Renault~

~South Indian Cinema’s Mega Stars Graced The Opening Press Conference Weekend Celebrations~

  • The star-studded IIFA Utsavam 2017 To be hosted by charismatic Superstars
    • Tamil: Rana Daggubati and Shiva
    • Telugu: Rana Dagubatti and Nani
    • Malyalam: Tini Tom and Pearle Maaney
    • Kannada: Akul Balaji and Meghana Gaonkar
  • IIFA Utsavam 2017 to witness power-packed performances by Superstars Of South Indian Cinema- Jiiva, Akshara Haasan, Hansika Motwani, Premgi, Amyra Dastur, Ravi Charan among others

27 th March 2017, Hyderabad: South Indian Cinema’s grand Utsavam, the 2 nd Annual Fortune Sunflower Oil IIFA Utsavam Co-Presented by Hero Maestro Edge Powered by Renault kick-started with an Opening Press Conference today in Hyderabad – the hub of South Indian Cinema at Park Hyatt, Hyderabad.  A magnificent extravaganza envisioned to honor and recognize the best of South India’s film industries- Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada, IIFA Utsavam Weekend and Awards will play host to some of the most celebrated stars of the South Indian Film Industry, notable guests, dignitaries and fans on the 28 th and 29 thMarch at HICC in Hyderabad.

Setting off the landmark two-day star studded Weekend & Awards celebrations, the 2 nd Annual IIFA Utsavam Opening Press Conference saw mega stars of the South Indian Cinema; Tamannaah, Rana Daggubati, Jiiva, Sai Dharam Tej, Akhil, Kunchacko Boban, Hansika Motwani, Premji, Akshara Haasan, Laxmi Raj, Rashi Khanna, Pragya Jaiswal, Nikki Galrani, Amyra Dastur, Rachita Ram and Isha Talwar among others in attendance.

IIFA Utsavam 2017 celebrations will air exclusively on Broadcast Partners, Sun Network , while the Title Sponsor is Fortune Sunflower Oil , Powered by Renault , Co-presenting Sponsor , Hero Maestro Edge . The Destination Partner is the Govt. of Telangana, Telangana Tourism, Happening Hyderabad and Telangana Police . Brand Partner is Big C. Park Hyatt Hyderabad is the Luxury Partner while HICC is the Venue Partner. The Gifting Partner for IIFA Utsavam 2017 are Tiraa and Spa Ceylon . Mirrors is the Hair and Makeup Partner . The Cause Partner is Horlicks . The Celebrations Partner is Kingfisher Premium and Virtual Vision is the Technical Partner . Ellanar Group is the Digital Partner.

Since its announcement, the 2 nd edition of IIFA Utsavam – a Celebration of Cinema of the South, has been much anticipated by audiences and industry folks alike. Kicking off with an opening Press conference, Day 1 of the grand Utsavam will witness the glitz and grandeur at IIFA Utsavam Green Carpet and Awards ceremony, celebrating talent from the Tamil & Malayalam film industries. Day 2 will celebrate and felicitate the talent from the Telugu and Kannada film industries.

The two day 2 nd Annual Fortune Sunflower Oil IIFA Utsavam Co-Presented by Hero Maestro Edge Powered by Renault is all set to witness an awe-inspiring performances by the biggest megastars from the South Indian Film Industry, Jiiva, Sai Dharam Tej, Akhil Akkineni, Kunchacko Boban, Hansika Motwani, Ravi Chandran, Premgi, Akshara Haasan, Raai Laxmi, Raashi Khanna, Pragya Jaiswal, Nikki Galrani, Amyra Dastur, Rachita Ram, Isha Talwar among others.

Speaking on the occasion, Rana Daggubati said, “IIFA Utsavam is a unique endeavor that raises South Indian cinema to a global platform, allowing the immense talent of the South to be admired universally. I am excited to host the IIFA Utsavam 2017 in Hyderabad and share the stage with some of the most successful actors and technicians from our film industry. As we get set to honour their contributions to cinema, I invite you to join us to celebrate and applaud your favourite stars. I’m certain that IIFA Utsavam will surpass your expectations this year!”

Hansika Motwani says “IIFA Utsavam is a pioneering event that gives a universal platform of admiration to the talent from the four massive film industries of South India. It is great to see an endeavor such as IIFA Utsavam to help give our cinema maximum exposure to audiences and media around the world. I’m thrilled to be a part of this fantastic journey and look forward to this year’s celebrations.”

IIFA Utsavam Director, Andre Timmins said, “We are pleased to host the second edition of IIFA Utsavam Weekend and Awards in Hyderabad after the phenomenal success last year. IIFA Utsavam aims at celebrating the excellence and diversity of the South Indian cinema and it’s an honor to felicitate commendable individuals for their talent and hard work. IIFA from the beginning has promoted Indian cinema across the world to a global platform and with IIFA Utsavam we are looking forward to bring together four massive film industries of South India on one platform as a single entity. We are happy to receive enormous support from the Govt. of Telangana who are the first to recognize this initiative and assist us in the smooth functioning of the event.”

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Angshu Mallick, COO, Adani Wilmar Ltd. Said, “Adani Wilmar Ltd.is one of India’s fastest growing food company with a turnover of more than 3.50 billion USD. Fortune – India’s No 1 edible oil brand, is proud to associate and present IIFA, the International Indian Film Academy into South Indian cinema beginning from 2015. Proud to be called as IIFA Utsavam, we have chosen Fortune Sunflower Oil, one of our most prominent brands in the South Indian market which is also acclaimed to be “very very Light “   Oil in the Sunflower Oil category to bring forth this partnership. With our wide Range of product portfolio of Edible oils, Basmati Rice, Pulses, Soya chunks & Besan, we look forward to being the preferred brand of every South Indian consumer by reaching out with an array of celebrity engagements as a result of our partnership with Utsavam. With the legacy of IIFA in the Indian entertainment space, we proudly look forward to the best entertainment extravaganza the South of India is going to witness.”

Sai Dharam Tej said, “The first year of IIFA Utsavam was an exhilarating experience as it was the first time ever that the South Indian cinema was celebrated at such a grand and large scale. I’m phenomenally excited for the second edition of this celebration as this initiative taken by the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) is something I highly commend and I am excited to be performing in their second edition in Hyderabad.”

Mr. Ashok Bhasin Head of Sales, Marketing & Consumer Care, Hero MotoCorp Ltd, said “Brand Hero has always connected very well with the youth through multiple platforms including – sports, music and movies. Our leading Portfolio of Brands has a very large and growing consumer base in South India. We are now very proud that Hero MotoCorp is associated with IIFA Utsavam 2017 through our stylish new scooter Maestro Edge as the Co-Presenter. The Bold New Maestro Edge is fast emerging as the style icon – with its new aesthetics; value-added features and great on-road performance. The IIFA Utsavam 2017 Awards recognize performance & style, and naturally provide the perfect stage for the New Maestro Edge to showcase its style quotient.”

Sumit Sawhney, Country CEO and Managing Director, Renault India Operations said , “Renault is one of the youngest and fastest growing brands in the Indian automotive industry, driven by our brand ideology, ‘Passion for life’ which is clearly reflected in our offerings and the platforms we partner with. Our association with the prestigious IIFA Utsavam, which honours the talent, excellence and dynamism of South Indian cinema, is in sync with Renault’s passion for celebrating life with elements of culture, entertainment, films, music, creativity and above all people.”

Mr. Thomas Abraham , General Manager , Park Hyatt Hyderabad said, “It’s an honour for Park Hyatt Hyderabad to be associated with IIFA awards this year.  We are celebrating 5 years this year in the city of Nizams and we would like to thank partners like IIFA and patrons of the city without whom we would not have achieved the success and respect so far. The association with IIFA this year makes our celebrations even more special. We hope to continue bringing to the city events of such glitz and glamour and continue thriving to give service where luxury is personal.”

Prashant Pandey, Area Marketing Lead Nutrition, Consumer Healthcare Indian Subcontinent, Horlicks said, “We at GSK are committed to helping people do more, feel better and live longer. Dietary micronutrient deficiency is commonly found in India across diverse socio economic background and we have been taking several initiatives to drive awareness in this area. We are delighted to partner IIFA to further help drive awareness about this in India and specifically connect with mothers who are the gatekeepers of nutrition in every family.”

An initiative by Wizcraft International Entertainment, IIFA Utsavam recognizes and honour the best across the South Indian film industry. The voting process is based on a peer-to-peer recognition, members of the music industry encompassing industry stalwarts, music directors, producers, lyricists, singers, technicians, composers and leaders in the film business vote for winners across all the categories. The votes are then tabulated by KPMG who are the process auditors for IIFA Utsavam, and the winners are determined.

About IIFA Utsavam:

Encompassing four massive 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. Known for its larger-than-life movies, flamboyant superstars, immense talent pool, technologically advanced productions, loyal fan following, the Cinema of the South has created waves not only in India but also made a name for itself on the global map.

IIFA Utsavam is where we endeavor to bring the world to Hyderabad through international recognition and association of brand IIFA. The aim is to bring recognition, prestige and glory to the South Indian Film industries, by felicitating them and recognizing their achievements and triumphs annually. The IIFA Utsavam weekend will help give the Southern film industries a bigger global platform to grow a larger audience across India and internationally. IIFA Utsavam brings together the four main industries; Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada for a major 2-day event.

About Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.:

Wizcraft International Entertainment, India’s leading media and Entertainment Company is dedicated to showcasing its expertise on the world stage.  Having conceptualized some of the grandest events globally including the 50 Years of Indian Independence, the 30 Years of Mauritian Independence, the 10 years of the South African Freedom Struggle, the Commonwealth Games Opening and Closing ceremonies in Delhi as well as the Handover ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, & the prestigious International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards & Weekend for 15 years in over 12 countries, Wizcraft has contributed towards brand building for India across the world.  It has pioneered and developed India’s biggest entertainment brand IIFA which has taken Indian Cinema and culture to the world. The growth story of the company reflects the evolution of the Indian event management & entertainment industry itself. Driven by its vision “Believe in the power of your dreams” the company is committed to quality and innovation, while setting its sights on greater peaks of achievement.