The IIFA Weekend and Awards, all set to woo its Middle East audiences starting this July only on Star Plus

IIFA raised the curtain on its second decade of celebrations in Colombo in a 3 day IIFA Weekend from June 3 to June 5 in the bustling heart of Sri Lanka. The 3 day extravaganza plays host to the Indian film industry, the corporate world, dignitaries from India and the region, world media and Indian Cinema fans from across the globe.

The IIFA Weekend, will be shown across the Middle East starting July 4th exclusively on Star Plus. The 3 day IIFA Weekend has been carefully divided into a 3 week extravaganza for its Middle East audiences. The IIFA Curtain raiser will telecast on July 4 at 10 pm followed by the IIFA Weekend with the Stars on 10th July at 4.30 pm. The ultimate in glitz, glamour & stars , the IIFA Awards will be televised on July 18 starting 6.30 pm.

With IIFA into its second decade of celebrations the Awards night was hosted by the talented trio of Boman Irani, Riteish Deshmukh and Lara Dutta and was doused in a series of honours, entertainment and laughs. The show opened with Lanka’s maiden child, Jacqueline Fernandez depicting her Sri Lankan roots with finesse in her scintillating performance, accompanied by a class act from the country’s best.

Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor sizzled to hit numbers from 2009 films including Love Aaj Kal and 3 Idiots, respectively while Indian Cinema greats, Salman Khan, Govinda and Anil Kapoor quite literally took us back, showcasing their trademark dance moves from their most prominent films, to a stadium full of enthralled and hooting fans in Sri Lanka.

One of the most talked about sequences came from the unsuspecting, Boman Irani who brought his musical forte to the fore, surprising everyone as he strummed the guitar, singing “Give me some sunshine”! Catch all the excitement as Bipasha Basu rode in onto the IIFA stage on a motorbike and the boy next door, Vivek Oberoi captivated the crowd with his spellbinding performance and even taking away a special trophy.

The night ended on a high with many hearts aflutter as Indian Cinema’s favourite dancer, Hrithik Roshan took centre stage with an act that involved swords and a constant changing of looks and even had the nation’s heartthrob singing.

IIFA has grown bigger and better through the years, and its entry into the second decade of IIFA Magic, celebrated with the many events during the IIFA Weekend in Colombo, was proof to its escalating global reach. The IIFA Weekend and Awards 2010 is produced by Wizcraft International Entertainment and the Sri Lankan Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).