Costly Jamboree

Through this column of your esteemed daily, I would like to express my distress at the holding of the Filmfare awards function in Guwahati by the State government. The glamorous cine award-giving ceremony will be held in February 2020, and Dispur will be splurging Rs 23 crore to promote the State as a global destination for tourism through this costly jamboree. I feel it is a total waste. The Filmfare awards show was started by the Times Group in 1954 at Mumbai, and it is the most recognized Hindi movie award show in Indian cinema.

However, my concern is that except the brand ambassador of Assam tourism, Priyanka Chopra, no other Bollywood star is going to promote this State. Moreover, for the growth and development of the tourism sector, transportation and infrastructure in the State should be improved. I don’t think the State government is paying much attention towards this end.

Inconvenience in travelling can never woo tourists. The taxes that we are paying are not spent wisely. Several issues are there to be looked upon by the government for the benefit of the general public. Assam is not in a position to host such an expensive event. Also, it may hamper the Assamese film industry which is, at long last, stirring to life. People in the State may again be influenced and have the urge to choose Bollywood movies over Assamese films because of all the glamour and razzmatazz.

Bidisha Saikia,

Cotton University.