Opinion Lapping,larger than life
India is going Gaga over its very own Grand Prix
Everyone was going Gaga over it: asked for his opinion by TV news,Robert Vadra said it was very well organised; actor Imran Khan was proud we had pulled it off; superstar and superhero SRK thought it was a good beginning (like the opening of his Ra.One?); the drivers praised the facilities as world-class (including,we hope,the toilets!); Karthikeyan said it was a dream come true (and he was still sleeping it?). The Star Sports commentator was more eloquent: it was a fantastic event where the price of one ticket is a months wages (can it drive out poverty at 200 kmph?); it was a huge,huge success and it could potentially be the best race on the circuit.
In the words of the latest Nawab of Pataudi,had (we) made it large enough to be counted as a successful Formula One? Perhaps for the first and only time in television history,there was rare unanimity on this: yes,we had made it large enough to win everyones approval. Why,even Lady Gaga had flown out especially for the afterparty where,according to Aaj Tak,she was to perform for two-three minutes. (Did she whiz past as fast as the cars did on the Buddh International track?) Even then she was to be seen by only those who could afford it a table was going for a mere Rs 40 lakh (no wonder Mani Shankar Aiyar wants the Grand Prix event taxed).
TV news was more generous: it gave the aam aadmi a better and longer look at her. Times Now spent 30 minutes on the making of Lady Gaga; Headlines Today played the videos of her five best songs; while TLC had the designer Paul Gaultier in conversation with the singer.
The same Sunday,Team Anna met Anna Hazare,and Metallica performed in Bangalore where L.K. Advanis yatra had arrived a few hours earlier. For once,however,none of them could keep up with the speed news from Greater Noida as the Indian Grand Prix became the biggest story of the day.
The loudest screams heard on the TV were for Vettel,who led the race from start to finish. But equally loud human sounds erupted in the studio every time Sushil Kumar answered a question on his way to winning Rs 5 crore on Kaun Banega Crorepati (Sony). Hes the first person to do so,and not a moment too soon; as Amitabh Bachchan informed us on Monday,he has only three weeks left before he calls it a day for this season of the quiz contest and there had been no crorepati until Kumar.
Well,he could not have had a more winsome winner: Kumar was all teeth and consumed by a nervous energy that Vettel would have appreciated. We saw young Kumars home in Bihar and listened to his dreams. He shared these with Rajendra Mane,who cooked at a dhaba in Mumbai and had come to seek his fortune just like Kumar. The only difference is that he needs to exercise his fingers as much as his wits on season two of Masterchef India (Star Plus). Contestants on reality shows have the same kind of backstory mostly young and aspirational,they represent an India where a dhaba cook or a computer scientist could win the ultimate prize.
The show looks good and,judging by the judges reactions,it tastes pretty good too. This time Masterchef India is more about the food and that is because they have wisely left out Akshay Kumar who is a lovely guy,a successful actor and probably kind to animals but cookery talent show host he is not. Vikas Khanna is his replacement. He has a pleasing personality which offsets the stern demeanour of the other two judges,Ajay Chopra and Kunal Kapoor. Masterchef India has passed the first test: the food is a star now and could be the winner by the time the show ends.
shailaja.bajpai@expressindia.com
Share
