Should Lalit Modi think of alternative head quarters for IPL? I think it is imperative.l. Not so long after many pat his shoulder for doing good job in the first tournaments the second matches were marred by election fiasco. Half the Indians lost their interest in game due to alien South African venue and erratic timings. Most could reach home only after 10 overs of the play or skip office work to watch it unauthorized.
The very pride of Indian Premier League providing an alternative career for eminent international players at 'price' is all set to loose. It was a learning green room experience for many of our young players to be associated with legendary figures of the game. They found an inspiring leadership in Shane Warne who was other wise a play boy at disrepute. It was truly amazing image turn around for antagonized Andrew Symonds to be loved and cheered by Indians fans. Young bowlers could never dream off taking few tricks of throw from embarrassed Mc.Grath 'uncle' while hanging around him. Mc.Cullum Shaun Marsh, Shane Watson were exited about their new found place in their respective teams. In a way it was an exiting experience for many players in West India, and South Africa, Newzeland to be one amongst players of an alien nation jointly clappping hands with hitherto rival players wishing their team's success. It was cloaked pride for Indians that they could turn the tables round from being an underdog nation to much sought after destination. New discoveries were made with regard to talented young Indian players who otherwise could have taken years to surface. It was a huge personal success for Mr. Lalit Mody. In a way IPL is a new brand India.
This is the brighter side of the IPL landscape. It's huge success obviously followed by predicaments even before it placed it's foot firmly on the ground. Shiva Sena threatens with non allowance of OZ players in Mumbai. Pakistan player's non inclusion raged the controversy not only in India even in Pakistan. Pakistan threatens to pull back it's legislators team's Indian visit claiming toll of peace talks. Foreign Affairs ministry steps into private domain of IPL demanding explanation for exclusions. With no money to buy any more players the IPL's bafflement was taken off by Pak Government itself by revoking their player's visas. So far so good. Sharaukh Khan favored talk about Pakistan players leaving people wonder what prevented Kinght Riders to support Pakistan' cause, raged a further controversy about his patriotism and Indianness. Finally worried Khan apprehensively decided to stick to his guns leaving Karan Johar and multiplex owners to test their fortunes. With few more Bollywood personalities taking his side, the point of "My name is Khan" is successfully driven home. It is delivered to the Mumbai screens after enormous labor pains. The film which other wise could have had damp opening earned it's money in the first week of release.
Home torn Deccan Chargers subtly intimidated by the state's sports minister finally chose to question IPL for shifting inaugural function and venue from Hyderabad after weeks of slumber . Seemingly they are unwilling to displease their Telangana protagonists. Even the knowledge of disrupted Ranjis on account of Andhra player's presence , will not deter them from issuing show cause notices to IPL. One should wonder the boldness with which Deccan Charges proposes matches in Hyderabad. The presence of one Andhra Venugopal is good enough reason to get involved into risk. What if Deccan Charges boycott the matches? The questions of IPL conducting matches without participation from previous champions, kind of eleventh hour rigorous home work and rescheduling required to conduct rest of the matches sans Deccan chargers are quite intricate.
The ruckus made by Sena about OZ players on the grounds of purported racism in Australia, is quite intangible. The arguments with regard to the narrow patriotic expressions, regional loyalties, culture pronouncements come to hand only to the perpetrators but not to the people. One should reject the hate culture canvassed on narrow lines. We certainly do not like to be ranked with jihadis. We should painfully cry for being spotted as unsafe country along with gravely terror stricken nations. Sena in it's desperate attempt to beat the growing influence of MNS appear to be in constant search of issues. Pathetically we see astounding growth of self seekers whose self interests overtake country's safety and interests. We Indians who invited every body and assimilated every thing on earth, strangely trying to show a new face to the world. Who knows , tomorrow some other sena may require ban on some other country for the reason that cow has been eaten rather than worshiped, or some blond should be stabbed to death for appearing half naked on the screen, or some bar overseas included name of Lord Rama as suffix Pune attacks added new dimension to the existing problems. All the above hitches are unwittingly resolved with one Pune bomb blast putting India away on the cricket map.
Movies in a way are the soft targets for any kind of turmoils happenings in the regions. Scarcely they are political to claim any kind of immunity.Their profiteering is the glitch which attracts attentions right from tax officials to agitators. Their toil often did not earn it's well deserved respect from the public as the entertainment provided was thought to be not very different from 'Nautanki'. The involved huge money often arouses green eyed contenders. Big "B" was made to apologize for his Hindi and apathy for Mumbai's development. Scores of entertainers before him gleefully skipped Mumbaikar's wrath because Raj Thakeray was not born then. Then came "MY name is Khan". Sharaukh was needed to climb Mount Everest flaunting his Indian flag.
We get different story about Telugu film industry which faced unprecedented crisis in past 75 year's history. Suddenly it occurred to people that the entire Telugu filmdom is being dominated by coastal Andhra people. The industry had to bear the brunt of discrimination. Many loved actors and producers were targeted for their unholy birth in allegedly prosperous places. (Thank God Kanataka did not talk about Udupi people for monopolizing hotel industry and Tamil Nadu about Shivakasi for fireworks? Why Ludhiana and Tirupur alone flourish with knitwear? Why Anakapalli should be known for jaggery trade? Why Punjab for sport goods? and why Banaras and Kanjeevaram alone for silk sarees? Good god ! there are so many reasons to feel envious? )
Film shootings have been disrupted, banners were smashed, theaters owners were warned, lineages have been probed. Screenings of films have been ensured with police protection and tight security as if they were defense projects in execution.Still one has an itch for making films I guess Moon should be right place to do so.. There can rise so many sensibilities about caste , language or region in future. This is only a beginning.
Are we on the making of so many countries within India? Who can stop Rwanda against Rwanda?
(I thank my internet for finally allowing me post this after four days struggle which I am afraid lost it's relevance with news updates.)
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