Taxpayer money should not be spent on likes of Karan Johar

Arvind Sinha questions presence of Bollywood at IFFI: ‘Taxpayer money should not be spent on likes of Karan Johar'

Arvind Sinha said that Bollywood is 'getting into these spaces' and further added, 'They don’t need support from the government. What are they doing here? What is to be promoted (through IFFI) is good cinema. Bollywood has its own money, finance, muscle power, through all these things, they are getting into these spaces... (The people) who are making the decision should have clarity that public taxpayers money should not be spent on filmmakers like Karan Johar... They (IFFI organisers) have to support the documentary filmmakers, feature filmmakers who need support. There are no rajas-maharajas to support the artistes, the government should support any work of art…Why should these spaces be given to those who already have everything? They don’t need support from the government. What are they doing here? The film festival is not for them. The film festival should be for good cinema.' 

Source:   Arvind Sinha questions presence of Bollywood at IFFI: ‘Taxpayer money should not be spent on likes of Karan Johar'

And who exactly would give any attention to IFFI without Karan and Co? As he said, this is just another promo spot for Karan, but IFFI needs him for that earned media. 

Originally posted by: MostlyHarmIess

And who exactly would give any attention to IFFI without Karan and Co? As he said, this is just another promo spot for Karan, but IFFI needs him for that earned media. 

IFFI is meant for independent films. 

Originally posted by: VimalPanMasala

IFFI is meant for independent films. 

It's common practice for trade events and film festivals to have big names to attract media attention and investors. Karan could be looking to invest in a film for all you know. 

Originally posted by: MostlyHarmIess

Was Karan screening a film. Article says he did a promotional event.

It's common practice for trade events and film festivals to have big names to attract media attention and investors. Karan could be looking to invest in a film for all you know. 

He promoed (idk if he screened) Sara Ali Khan's Ae Watan freedom fighter flick. 

The guy said that it is not the fault of Bollywood but people “who are making the decision should have clarity that public taxpayers' money should not be spent on filmmakers like Karan Johar” as he has a lot of money already. It's not really KJO's fault, but the one who promoted this. 

I think it is a valid point. KJO has done a lot for cinema but he's taking up some eyeballs from bigshots attending this festival that could go elsewhere. Like why was Madhuri Dixit dancing a performance to her old songs to promote her new Marathi production (btw she is not acting in the Marathi movie, they should have sent one of the actors instead of her). 

It sounds like not very well organized...or is the IFFI also corrupted?