TELEVISTA
Cricket stumps serials
AMITA MALIK

As everyone knows, sport is now the in-thing, which is why politicians, filmstars and business tycoons are making a beeline for it. Everyone also knows that cricket is the king of all sports activities. Mostly due to TV, it must be admitted. Even then, one hardly expected it to knock out those syrupy serials which have been the staple diet of TV viewers, especially women. No one has yet kept statistics, from what one knows, of the ratio of men to women who watch TV.

The common belief is that more women stay at home than men, who go out to work. But when it comes to sport, an increasing number of women have become addicts too. Not due to Mandira Bedi, who has shed her noodle straps but is still making up what is claimed to be one-half of ‘the original pair’, with Charu Sharma, whatever that might mean. So in this case one does not have to work out the ratio between men and women. Because, according to the most recent statistics, the saas bahu serials have taken a big thrashing from cricket. And that is something to ponder over.

Those caught on camera wildly wave their hands and laugh with joy when they see themselves on the large screens at different corners of the cricket field.

What is it that makes cricket so popular? At the risk of sounding cynical, I have a theory that one of the minor contributors to its popularity is that people not only go to the stadiums to watch cricket but also to watch themselves on the screen. Every few minutes, as the camera follows the ball into the audience, you see those caught on camera wildly waving their hands and laughing with joy as they see themselves on the large screens at different corners of the cricket field. They enjoy their brief moment of stardom, and while some give an elegant wave, others get into a frenzy, which grows at times into a Mexican wave.

That is not all. There are the side shows, not least of all the cheer leaders in their skimpy clothes and bare midriffs and more. If serious entertainment comes from cricket, the girls provide extra entertainment to what appear to be our sex-starved voyeurs. To them, cricket seems second choice. Not to forget that typical Indian touch, when two dark-skinned girls were taken off the cheerleaders' team because the crowds wanted only fair-skinned girls.

Something else to ponder over. In other words, to the voyeur, if not to the women addicts of saas-bahu serials, the cheerleaders are not only more sexy but much more fun. That is another reason why cricket is knocking out the saas-bahu serials. In fact cricket is lapping up our women stars, from Preity Zinta to all the speculation about the women stars going crazy over Dhoni, and their appearance in the VIP boxes at matches making rumours run wild.

However, all is not lost outside India. Last heard of, the Afghans were crazy about our saas-bahu serials. Not even the Taliban has been able to put them on leash. Neighbouring Pakistan has been one of the big outlets for our serials, even if some people in Kashmir find them detesting, such as the fundamentalist moral police. But let us not gloat over that. Our very own moral police has also been getting hot under their collars about our cheer leaders. Personally, I am against them for a totally different reason. Cheer leaders may be all very well on American campuses, but I see no reason why we should waste money on having them around since they serve no useful purpose.

The key word is useful. However, in these days when horrific domestic crimes are dominating the screen, one can at least say this of the cheer leaders. They are not doing any particular harm to India or Indians. Which is merciful in the present context.