As we begin the countdown to the Idea IIFA Awards in Dubai, the International Indian Film Academy today announced Jagmohan Mundhra's Provoked as the film that will be premiered at the IIFA World Premiere in Dubai on 14 June 2006.

Set in London, Provoked is the traumatic story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia (Aishwarya Rai), a battered Punjabi housewife and mother of two children. Unable to bear the brutality of her alcoholic husband (Naveen Andrews), she takes revenge by setting him on fire. Charged with first-degree murder, Kiranjit is sentenced to life imprisonment. While in prison she befriends her cellmate, a wealthy white woman, Veronica Scott (Miranda Richardson).

Provoked will receive a red carpet welcome as it premieres at the Grand Cineplex Theatre during the IIFA Weekend presented by Tiara Residence in Dubai. The IIFA World Premiere is being showcased in association with the Dubai International Film Festival.

Over the past few years, the IIFA World Premiere platform has showcased the Oscar-nominated Lagaan, Aankhen, Yuva and Parineeta….all of which have been critically and commercially acclaimed world over.

Speaking on Idea's association with IIFA, stated, Idea Cellular, Vice President- Marketing Pradeep Shrivastava, "Idea IIFA awards offers us the best platform to demonstrate the true essence of mobile and entertainment convergence. With Idea IIFA Awards there is an unmatched value we provide to our customers by providing them the three aspects of entertainment that engage them through the all powerful mobile-phone. With Idea IIFA awards, our privileged customers will have access to specially created merchandise, contests, video and MMS downloads and several other value added services. Only Idea can take you there."

Also present at the conference Saeed Al Nabouda, CEO, Dubai Shopping Festival and Dubai Summer Surprises said, "Dubai is a well-loved destination for our Indian friends who consider it a home away from home. The hosting of an event of such massive caliber as the IIFA is a giant stride ahead in further cementing the age-old ties between India and the UAE. It is a celebration of the cultural and social harmony between the two countries."

The Idea IIFA Awards presentation ceremony being held at the magnificent Dubai Airport Expo, one of the crowning glory of the IIFA Weekend presented by Tiara Residence will be held in the presence of a global audience including dignitaries from the world of cinema like Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Yash Chopra, A.R. Rehman, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Ashok Amritraj to name a few. Other guests would include stalwarts from the world of business, politics and sports. Over 10,000 people will witness a spectacular show by the best of the Indian Film Industry. The IIFA Weekend and all IIFA events are conceptualized, produced and directed by Wizcraft International Entertainment, one of the world's leading entertainment agencies. The breath-taking performances created by Wizcraft will be choreographed by Shiamak Davar. As always, this year too the Idea IIFA Awards will be celebrating the best from Indian Cinema and will pay tribute to the stalwarts from the Indian silver screen.

While Idea has committed itself to sponsorship of the Idea IIFA Awards for the first time, this year's IIFA celebrations will be broadcast across the world by Star Plus on 25 June at 8 pm IST. Star Plus viewers can experience the IIFA journey over multiple programmes that cover the various events and interactions in Dubai and the IIFA Flashback over the past five years.

Star India Vice President Marketing Ajay Vidyasagar said, "It is fitting that IIFA, which celebrates the emergence of Indian Cinema on a global platform, is partnering with Star yet again. Post the success of IIFA last year, millions of viewers across India, UAE, Pakistan, USA, UK and South East Asia who have chosen Star Plus to be their preferred choice of Indian entertainment, are looking forward to IIFA in Dubai. We are proud to associate with IIFA and will work together to make this year's event a truly memorable celebration of Indian Cinema for all our viewers."

Now Indian Cinema fans across the globe can also be a part of the star studded celebrations of the Idea IIFA Awards, Dubai. To promote the Idea IIFA Awards, several contests are being promoted across the world and fans of Indian Cinema are being flown in to witness the spectacular Idea IIFA Awards and the IIFA Weekend in Dubai.

In India msn.com is the official websites for voting of the popular awards. Global Indian Cinema fans can vote for and help their favourite film stars to win an IIFA award this year. Lucky winners will be able to travel to Dubai and witness the glamorous Idea IIFA Awards in June this year. The nominations for the Popular Awards are open for public voting, using the globally accessible www.msn.com/iifa only till the 6 June 2006. The voting process is monitored and audited by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, who are also the audit firm for the Oscars.