At 7 p.m. tonight Bollywood mania will be taking over Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in Tampa to pump up movie fans for this weekend's International Indian Film Academy Awards. The event known as the IIFA Stomp kicks off IIFA with Bollywood music, dance and Indian cuisine and handicrafts.
Musical entertainment includes performances by popular Indian and local DJs — DJ Clement, DJ Aman Nagpal and, most notably, DJ Ravi Drums, a Chamberlain High School graduate and internationally known drummer/high-energy spinmeister also known as Ravi Jakhoti. Ravi has been a collaborator of Paula Abdul, Tupac Shakur and Justin Timberlake, and has produced the official track for this year's IIFA, "Do Da Tampa." The tune will be featured in the awards night's opening dance routine and features conga player Gumbi Ortiz.
And who knows, we may even get to experience a Mumbai-style flash mob a la Slumdog Millionaire.
The IIFA Stomp is free and open to all. Don't miss it, or you'll be so sari.
What's in store for the big 15th Annual IIFA weekend: The IIFA Rocks and Post Party (invite only) is 6 p.m. Thurs, April 24, at the USF Sundome. The FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum is 8:30 a.m. Thurs.-Fri., April 24-25, Tampa Convention Center. The IIFA Magic of the Movies and Technical Awards is 6 p.m. Fri., April 25, at the Mid Florida Credit Union Amphitheater. Green carpet: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Main event: 7-11 p.m. The IIFA Awards is Sat., April 26, with Green carpet 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.; event is at 8 p.m. Raymond James Stadium. $90-$1,110. The IIFA Expo is open to the public and runs noon-8 p.m. Thurs. and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. April 24-26 at the Tampa Convention Center. In addition, each day will feature various welcomes at Tampa International Airport, workshops and briefings at the Tampa Convention Center, Tampa Theatre and the downtown Hilton Hotel. Actors Kevin Spacey and Vidya Balan are scheduled to appear. These events may be sold out or have restricted access. Visit iifa.com to register.
