Bollywood steals cricket Premier show

by Soutik Biswas
BBC News, Bangalore

A light and laser show helped kick start the Indian Premier League

In the end, Bollywood and a spectacular opening ceremony won over cricket in the opening match of the world's first private million-dollar cricket competition.

The cricket in the Indian Premier League opener on a balmy summer evening at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on Friday night was one-sided - the Calcutta team whipped the hosts Bangalore by an embarrassing 140 runs.

There were star players aplenty on the field - two stellar Indian captains, Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly, Australia's Ricky Ponting, India's new fast bowling sensation Ishant Sharma, South African star Jacques Kallis, and Indian pace bowler Zaheer Khan.

But the presence of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, also the owner of the Calcutta team, overshadowed the cricket.

King Khan

Fans gaped at their superhero as he blew kisses, cheered and danced precariously on the ledge of an upper tier stand.

There were a few serious cricket fans in the packed stadium

Men and women, young and old, whipped out their mobile phones to take fuzzy pictures of Khan as he opened champagne to celebrate his team's win.

When local spectators were asked by a television reporter who was the hero of the opening match, they screamed "Shah Rukh Khan".

As this worship of King Khan, as he his known by his legions of fans, continued, 26-year-old New Zealander Brendon McCullum decimated the opposition's bowling.

He scored 158 of Calcutta's 222 runs and single-handedly took the match away from Bangalore, owned by airline and brewery baron Vijay Mallya.

The game did not match the dazzling opening ceremony.

The 55,000-seater stadium was almost at capacity and was afire with cheerleaders from America and stilt-walkers from Holland.

A violinist performed in a blinding fog of laser and light show, in what looked like a cross between a corny musical and a Pink Floyd concert.

Hero worship

And just when it appeared that the fun had ended and the game had begun, Khan walked into an upper stand and all hell broke loose.

Simply not cricket: Bollywood stars overshadowed the game

On the field, McCullum was on fire. In an innings of youthful arrogance and brutal hitting, it was reminiscent of the way his Australian counterpart Adam Gilchrist had taken the World Cup final from Sri Lanka last summer.

Off the field, in the elite $120-a-ticket stands, people craned their necks to catch a glimpse of King Khan. The game almost appeared incidental.

Over the deafening din of Bollywood music, a spectator howled into his mobile phone "Mama, I am standing 50ft away from King Khan" just as McCullum hit a ball soaring into the stands for a six.

"Go, go, don't feel shy, go take a picture of your hero," screamed a mother to her daughter, both trying hard to position themselves for a better view of the superstar.

Bollywood ruled over cricket for most of the game. A couple of other stars regaled the spectators with more air kissing and cheering from the upper tiers.

Bollywood music belted out from a small stage even as the players warmed up.

For a long while, it was difficult to say whether the stadium was hosting a cricket match or a raucous Bollywood show.

Team loyalties

The game had its own share of dazzle - a cute tiger mascot for the Calcutta team; more stilt-walkers in team costumes; the shining gold helmets and pads of the Calcutta team which made the players look like feeble gladiators; and the shocking red attire of the umpires.

There was a bit of drama on the field but there was more in the stands

One reason why spectators came away dazzled by the opening ceremony and King Khan could be because the competition has yet to trigger off any team loyalties.

The competition - eight cities, more than 100 players, 44 days, 59 matches - features some of the world's best cricket players picked up by open auction. The cricketers play for teams named after some of the main Indian cities.

Some spectators waved "We love India" placards while hawkers peddled faded India caps and jerseys outside the stadium.

Painters roamed around to paint India colours on fans' faces. A few wore Bangalore and Calcutta jerseys. Clearly, team loyalties will take time to form.

Will the Indian Premier League work?

In the hysteria and hype of what is emerging as cricket's biggest gravy train, there are few dissenting voices, and everybody appears upbeat about its success.

But cricket-lover Noor Ahmed, disappointed with the tame ending of the opening match, put it succinctly:

"This is just like a three-hour Bollywood movie which people go to see at the local cineplex. Dance, music, fun. There's also some cricket.

"That's why it will work. That is what we Indians like."