'Taare Zameen Par' missing from IIFA nomination list

Apr 15, 2008 NR

New Delhi, April 15 (IANS) Aamir Khan's feted directorial debut "Taare Zameen Par" was absent from the 9th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards nomination list announced here Tuesday as the actor didn't forward his film for the awards shortlist.

"You won't find some important film names mentioned in the nomination list. It is because of the selection procedure," Sabbas Joseph, director Wizcraft International Ltd, said at a press conference.

"The rule for getting a nomination in the IIFA awards popular categories, producers have to fill up a form and send it to us. 'Taare Zameen Par' is one of my favourite films, but the producer didn't send his film, hence it is not in the list," Joseph said.

Notwithstanding the reported cold war between Shah Rukh Khan and IIFA brand ambassador Amitabh Bachchan, "Om Shanti Om", which is King Khan's home production, and "Chak De! India", another of his major hits, were nominated in all the main categories.

Addressing the gathering, Amitabh said: "It was my earnest desire to see a produce of Indian origin go oversees. IIFA in its ninth edition has continued the tradition of taking Indian cinema beyond our shores."

"Whenever a country does well in the economic sector, everything about it becomes beautiful. Ever since India has opened its economic bindings it has been growing," he added.

Amit Mitra, secretary general Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), was also present.

Mitra said: "FICCI partnered with IIFA in Amsterdam and we went to Dubai and Yorkshire. With IIFA and Wizcraft we are trying to create little pebble, which will have its reverberations in economic and business forums."

This year, the IIFA Weekend will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from June 6-8.

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