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‘Desi Girl’ to kickstart kabaddi cup today
Tribune News Service

Star performers Priyanka will perform on ‘Desi Girl’, ‘Shri Ganesha Deva’ and ‘Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram’ Gippy Grewal will present a medley of 10 songs, including a folk song and a western number Other key performers include Sherry Mann and Miss Pooja.

Bathinda, November 29
Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra’s performance on "Desi Girl", depiction of Punjab’s heritage through a “ball” and spectacular fireworks will usher in the 4th World Cup Kabaddi at a glittering ceremony on Saturday.

The cup will be declared open by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to the applause of an expected audience of 20,000, besides 1,200 artistes. The ceremony, which is expected to cost crores, has been personally overseen by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is the man behind the Kabaddi Cup.

Priyanka will, however, not dance to her “Pinki” number but is expected to set the temperatures rising on a winter evening at the Multi-purpose Sports Stadium. Besides "Desi Girl", she will perform on “Shri Ganesha Deva” and “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram”.

As a precursor to Priyanka’s performance, stand-up comedians Vikas Mongia and Jaswant Singh will perform, followed by performances by Sherry Mann and Miss Pooja. The folk medley, a play of music, lights, latest technologies and equipment, is likely to be one of the surprise elements of the show.

“We have put together a show that will bring out the culture and spirit of Punjab. We have brought 50 truckloads of equipment.

Although we know the 20,000-strong audience will be waiting to see Priyanka’s performance, we have a lot of interesting acts lined up before hers,” said Shubhra Bhardwaj Mehandirata, director of Ferriswheel, the company responsible for organising the opening and closing ceremonies.

Gippy Grewal, who believed to be taking home Rs 8-10 lakh for his 20-minute performance, will present a medley of 10 songs, including a folk song and a western number.

“One of the interesting parts of the ceremony is the revolving ball on which the history and progress of Punjab and Bathinda will be showcased. We hope the show will be of international standard,” said Bathinda Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav.

While the SAD-BJP government has been claiming credit for the annual Kabaddi World Cups, its detractors have been terming the money spent on the opening and closing ceremonies as “wasteful extravaganza” of a state reeling in debt.