Whilst sports like cricket rules the roost, others are lagging behind. In today’s scenario, when IPL has caught the fancy of many, does it owe its success to Bollywood’s glamour? Anupam Kishore conveys what the seminar at FICCI had to say.
India a nation full of sports’ lovers is in conjunction obsessed with Bollywood’s glamour. This panel discussion was moderated by Sonali Chander (Sports Editor & Anchor, NDTV) paneled by several other dignitaries including Kunal Dasgupta (Chairman and CEO, Triplecom Media), Ajay Jadeja (Former Cricketer & TV Anchor, NDTV), Rahul Bose (Filmmaker, Actor and rugby player) and Viren Rasquinha (COO, Olympic Gold Quest & Former Indian Hockey Captain).
The discourse kicked off on the topic whether cricket/IPL stands on its own or has the Bollywood quotient chiefly contributed to its glory. ‘Would it have been the same without film stars?’
Rahul Bose embarked on stating, “Sports are the biggest entertainment in India and the people who are crazy about sports just watch it, no matter what. If you are just emotionally connected to sports nothing matters at all. IPL has expanded its market by bringing in Bollywood.”
Sonali Chander argued that if cricketers are popular, why ‘KKR’ has branded its Reebok merchandise with ‘Khan 12’ throughout IPL’s three seasons.
Kunal Dasgupta accredit Set Max (TV Channel) for reestablishing cricket into Indian homes. He mentioned that India is a country that would indisputably love to buy two at the price of one: Cricket and Bollywood. Twenty20 has been a powerful format unlike one-day cricket. Dasgupta also shared his vision of expansions of the football and hockey team of Mumbai Indians with that of cricket.
Ajay Jadeja commented that a sport has its own identity and Bollywood is a godsend to it. Indian women have started watching cricket merely for the added Bollywood quotient. He also expressed that Bollywood targets the youth with the example of 40-yeared Aamir Khan playing the role of a 22-year old. The case is not same with sports stars pointing how the falling age of Sachin Tendulkar is batted around.
Bose added, “Internationally, sports stars are similar to Hollywood stars, at times even more famous. However, in India, we have grown up with cinema, and not with sports. Especially, post independence.”
Viren Rasquinha braced his view that sports audience want players putting their best effort in the game. He was sympathetic about the premiere hockey league not being a success, which was initially a hit.
“For a sports person, performance on field is foremost; s/he wouldn’t achieve any kind of stardom if s/he does not perform well,” revealed Kunal Dasgupta. He further added that for sports stars, marketing is not their core competency, while film stars inherit to market themselves. Sania Mirza, being, the only visible sports person after cricket.
According to Jadeja, “Bollywood is going to rule. Sports like football has to reinvent and reenergize itself taking tips from IPL.”
