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Photo. Bhagya Prakash K.

Gala time Entertainment has been taken to a new level now thanks to IPL

It is Archie Comics come alive with an opportunity to be either Betty or Veronica. The all-time American teenagers’ dream is taking birth in India too.

The ongoing IPL tournament has taken entertainment to a new level. Television watchers in the last five days have been intrigued by the cheerleaders.

Their ‘performance’and high-powered movements are as exciting as the shots of the players. Is there a new opportunity for aspiring models and young girls who wish to be part of show-biz? Is professional cheerleading a career option for young girls?

“As a career? I don’t think so. Inter-college sports and competitions give us a good excuse to scream our lungs out and do a jig on the field. But out there at such a huge platform, I won’t be comfortable,” says Asha M. a city college student. “We do it all the time at college functions and competitions… but personally to be a part of the squad and entertain the audience in the name of cheering is not my cup of tea,” says Swetha, a third year Architecture student.

Sharing a similar view, 19-year-old Madhu says, “I like this concept of having entertainment blended with sport, and feel thrilled that it’s there in India now. But that’s about it, beyond college premises, I’ll not be tempted to take part.”

The nay-sayers might be a majority right now, but things certainly would change.

According to the Redskins website, a national audition of Indian women for cheerleaders is already on. Once the squads are identified, only the choreographer of the Redskins will remain with the Royal Challengers until the end of the season in mid-June and conduct clinics throughout India. And two-weeks after India’s first-ever cheerleading team is announced, the group will be on the field dancing with Redskins Cheerleaders.

Apart from the 15 minutes of fame during the performance, there are other things that attract the girls to cheerleading. There is money, glamour and the lure of travel. At the auditions of Washington Redskins in the U.S., the reward included travelling to Caribbean and being featured on a swimsuit calendar.

Cheerleading, however, seems to be meeting with little cheer from the youngsters in city. Asmita Khanna, a school psychology counsellor says: “It is the concept of performing live which might be an issue here. Youngsters who’d otherwise do not mind a career in films and television or modelling can be apprehensive here. It is but natural to fear the new. For all we know a little more exposure might have our youngsters checking it out very soon.”

Says Vimla Devi, mother of two teenaged daughters, “This form of entertainment is new to India and from what I see on television requires skill and energy, like you find among the gymnasts. I do not mind if my daughters express their wish to be part of it, but to be honest I would get little worried about the costume though.”

When more of the good cheer of cheerleading and the charm of cricket gets unleashed in the next few weeks, it’s to be seen whether aspiring cricketers will outnumber the cheerleaders or vice versa!

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