THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state cabinet on Wednesday decided to pay a debutant band, Lalism , the band floated by actor Mohanlal , Rs 2 crore for the on-stage performance at the opening ceremony of the 35th National Games. The move raises many an eyebrow especially since Sachin Tendulkar attended the Run Kerala Run, the promotional event of National Games, for free.

The band will be paid Rs 1.60 crore in addition to Rs 20 lakh for transportation and accommodation. The government will also pay service tax of Rs 12.36 % on the amount, which will account for another Rs 22.24 lakh.

“The cabinet zeroed in on Lalism on the basis of the recommendation of a committee. Mohanlal’s special show can connect with the state’s culture and people here.,” sports minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said.

National Games chief commissioner and principal coordinator Jacob Punnoose said the committee had considered hiring Lalism as it fulfilled certain criteria. “We wanted a performer with Kerala connection and mass appeal, who would be able to mobilize a wide range of artists to perform on stage,” he explained the reason behind the selection of the band.

The executive committee that met on November 11, 2014 as well as the purchases committee that met on December 9, 2014, had decided to go for Lalism. These committees too did not consider any band other than Lalism or A R Rahman’s troupe. A R Rahman had demanded an exorbitant sum for performing, almost Rs 6 crore and the conditions put forth by them were “inflexible and one-sided”, according to the cabinet.

