Spoilers and show stealers at IPL opening ceremony
Reflecting the grandeur and exuberance of Indian festivities, the opening ceremony of the 8th season Indian Premier League (IPL) saw the glitzy and technologically stunning gala show on Tuesday 7th April in Kolkata. The show witnessed some of Bollywood match steps with international cricket camaraderie amid a replay of magical moments from the previous editions of the tournament.
However, there was also a little fiasco by some presenters saved by some of the other performers. A lacklustre emcee in Saif Ali Khan, a few non-functional LED lights, Shahid Kapoor almost taking a tumble and Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma stepping on a light were the low points of the evening.
But Shahid's overall performance and Hrithik Roshan's emotional yet fiery closing act spared the blushes during the two-hour ceremony held before a sparse 15,000 crowd at the Salt Lake stadium.
The first dampener came early in the evening in the form of heavy thundershowers that pushed back the ceremony by one and a half hours, but the crowd stuck to their seats waiting for the star acts.
As the audience waited for the star performers Hrithik, Anushka and Shahid to fire up the show, captains of the seven of the eight teams took the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Spirit of Cricket pledge by signing a bat.
In the cool night breeze, Hrithik's sizzling act against the backdrop of dazzling lights and psychedelic floor projections stole the show. The actor, who had his maiden live act after his stellar debut in "KahoNaaPyaar Hai" at the very same venue, made sure the Kolkata crowd got to see his best moves in his second show here.
Earlier, the show got going amid a pitch black set, as dancers attired in traditional Bengali white and red saris and holding clay lamps tore through the darkness.
An aura of serenity prevailed as composer Pritam led a choral tribute to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in an operatic rendition of his famed song "AnandalokeMangalaloke".
They whistled, cheered and clapped thunderously as the suave Saif Ali Khan introduced the captains of the eight teams to the sounds of their team's anthems.
The loudest cheers went up for Chennai Super Kings skipper M.S. Dhoni. When defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders' leading man GautamGambhir came in holding aloft the champions' trophy, the mob went wild.
Gambhir put the trophy back in play, in a symbolic gesture that set the ball rolling for the one-and-a-half-month competition on the 22-yard strip.
A synergy of peppy modern sounds, rhythms of traditional Bengali instruments including the dhaak (drum) and strong acoustics gave a feel of world music and calm.
Shahid’ shout to the crowd in Bengali "Kemonacho Kolkata" (how are you Kolkata?) was followed by his ride around the turf as the speakers sounded BappiLahiri's cult disco-pop number "I am a Disco Dancer" kick-starting the 'India kaTyohaar' (Festival of India).
In between the live acts, compere Saif made the audience participate in polls on their favourite IPL stars while the floor projections changed and the multi-hued light beams roved on the crowd. The team captains then signed a bat affirming their pledge to the MCC's spirit of cricket campaign.
Bollywood melted into rock as the multi-talented Farhan Akhtar took to the stage with his band and pumped up the arena. Starting off with a poem from "Zindagi Na MilegiDobara" to the accompaniment of cricket visuals, Farhan and his band, dressed in casuals, took the stage for eight minutes in a neat rock ensemble, strumming up some of his hits including "Rock On", "Sinbad the Sailor" and "Senorita".
The show concluded with fireworks as the stars united on stage and officially signalled the start of the series.
Reflecting the grandeur and exuberance of Indian festivities, the opening ceremony of the 8th season Indian Premier League (IPL) saw the glitzy and technologically stunning gala show on Tuesday 7th April in Kolkata. The show witnessed some of Bollywood match steps with international cricket...
Reflecting the grandeur and exuberance of Indian festivities, the opening ceremony of the 8th season Indian Premier League (IPL) saw the glitzy and technologically stunning gala show on Tuesday 7th April in Kolkata. The show witnessed some of Bollywood match steps with international cricket camaraderie amid a replay of magical moments from the previous editions of the tournament.
However, there was also a little fiasco by some presenters saved by some of the other performers. A lacklustre emcee in Saif Ali Khan, a few non-functional LED lights, Shahid Kapoor almost taking a tumble and Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma stepping on a light were the low points of the evening.
But Shahid's overall performance and Hrithik Roshan's emotional yet fiery closing act spared the blushes during the two-hour ceremony held before a sparse 15,000 crowd at the Salt Lake stadium.
The first dampener came early in the evening in the form of heavy thundershowers that pushed back the ceremony by one and a half hours, but the crowd stuck to their seats waiting for the star acts.
As the audience waited for the star performers Hrithik, Anushka and Shahid to fire up the show, captains of the seven of the eight teams took the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Spirit of Cricket pledge by signing a bat.
In the cool night breeze, Hrithik's sizzling act against the backdrop of dazzling lights and psychedelic floor projections stole the show. The actor, who had his maiden live act after his stellar debut in "KahoNaaPyaar Hai" at the very same venue, made sure the Kolkata crowd got to see his best moves in his second show here.
Earlier, the show got going amid a pitch black set, as dancers attired in traditional Bengali white and red saris and holding clay lamps tore through the darkness.
An aura of serenity prevailed as composer Pritam led a choral tribute to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in an operatic rendition of his famed song "AnandalokeMangalaloke".
They whistled, cheered and clapped thunderously as the suave Saif Ali Khan introduced the captains of the eight teams to the sounds of their team's anthems.
The loudest cheers went up for Chennai Super Kings skipper M.S. Dhoni. When defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders' leading man GautamGambhir came in holding aloft the champions' trophy, the mob went wild.
Gambhir put the trophy back in play, in a symbolic gesture that set the ball rolling for the one-and-a-half-month competition on the 22-yard strip.
A synergy of peppy modern sounds, rhythms of traditional Bengali instruments including the dhaak (drum) and strong acoustics gave a feel of world music and calm.
Shahid’ shout to the crowd in Bengali "Kemonacho Kolkata" (how are you Kolkata?) was followed by his ride around the turf as the speakers sounded BappiLahiri's cult disco-pop number "I am a Disco Dancer" kick-starting the 'India kaTyohaar' (Festival of India).
In between the live acts, compere Saif made the audience participate in polls on their favourite IPL stars while the floor projections changed and the multi-hued light beams roved on the crowd. The team captains then signed a bat affirming their pledge to the MCC's spirit of cricket campaign.
Bollywood melted into rock as the multi-talented Farhan Akhtar took to the stage with his band and pumped up the arena. Starting off with a poem from "Zindagi Na MilegiDobara" to the accompaniment of cricket visuals, Farhan and his band, dressed in casuals, took the stage for eight minutes in a neat rock ensemble, strumming up some of his hits including "Rock On", "Sinbad the Sailor" and "Senorita".
The show concluded with fireworks as the stars united on stage and officially signalled the start of the series.
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