GUWAHATI: The Chairman of Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC), Jayanta Malla Baruah, called for a media briefing at the ATDC headquarters today, February 17.
Addressing the media, Baruah said that ticket sales for the event amounted to Rs 4 crores. Of this, Rs. 1.60 crores was the contribution towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund taking into consideration the GST deduction. Baruah said in the briefing, “Vinit Jain of the Times Group presented the amount through a cheque to the chief minister on the stage during the course of the event.”
He expressed happiness that the GST deduction would also be paid into the state’s coffers and so an amount of Rs 2 crores has come back to the state through the event. He clarified that the state government had not spent anything beyond the Rs 23 crores that was paid to the Times Group for bringing the event to Guwahati as per the agreement that was signed.
He also expressed elation that Assam was successfully able to showcase its culture during the allotted 9-12 minutes of stage presentation as per the agreement. A Bihu dance recital by actress Aimee Baruah with the Bihu troupe of Ranjit Gogoi, a Sattriya dance recital and a fusion dance performance by 30 tribes of the state added to the cultural value of the Filmfare Awards. All the three items were telecast nationally over Colors channel.
Baruah further reiterated that it was a matter of pride that the Filmfare Awards ceremony was started giving due recognition to three cinematic stalwarts of the state, Jyoti Prasad Agarwalla, Dr Bhupen Hazarika and Pramathesh Baruah. Also the fact that each tribe of the state was given representation during the event was something to be elated about.
The chairman added that the Rs 23 crores spent for the event was justified. “I am thankful to the Times Group that in lieu of this Rs 23 crores, they provided us with a viewership platform of 200 crores worldwide which caught a glimpse of the Assam’s cultural diversity,” he said. He elaborated how the entire event yielded a business of approximately Rs 35 crores to Assam by way of hotel accommodations in the various hotels, food expenses, transportation, venue preparation (except for the stage), volunteer expenses etc.
He expressed gratitude to the Times Group for its departure from tradition whereby the Black Lady trophy that is presented to the winners was always carried by an usher who would be dressed in black as well so long the ceremony was being hitherto held in Mumbai, whereas this time the ushers were all dressed in traditional mekhela chador.
Above all, Baruah thanked the media for its positive coverage of the event. He was flanked by other top officials of ATDC.
