The DLF IPL 2009: IPL t20 Cricket

May 25, 2009

The DLF IPL 2009: IPL t20 Cricket

With just a miniscule 44 days in hand, IPL and Cricket South Africa has successfully managed to conjugate a spell bounding experience that was a treat to all the senses.

DLF IPL CRICKET Akon, gyrated and lip-synched to his famous track ‘Smackdown’. He kept the audiences on their feet with his foot-tapping tunes and constant contact with the audience. In his third track, Akon went vocal for about 20% of the performance time. Post the Akon performance; one just got hypnotized by the tantalizing drum performances by skilled hands that effortlessly fused the Indian classic ‘..raghupati raghave raja ram..’ with mesmeric Afro background scores, that left every Indian humbled to the core.

Great troupe performances by dancers in African and space age attire and Indian dancers in new age attire who belonged to the renowned Shamak Davak gang.Adding magic to the moment were mammoth helium air balloons with artistically performing trapeze artists suspended in mid-air at ceiling level of the oval shaped stadium. The ongoing spectacle involved Technicolor light, sound and laser shows featuring humongous balloon displays with acrobats performing skilled acts. The fresh entry to the show was the competition among 10 gorgeous locals for the South Africa Bollywood beauty pageant. The winner of the pageant, Dune, received the crown from Akon. Akon wooed Dune with the song ‘u r so beautiful’.

The current reigning Bollywood queen Katrina performed live to the pulsating global hit ‘Jai ho’ along with countless Afro-Indian dancers and Shamak Davar troupe in the background. Live fire show performances to the throbbing music and beating drums were truly the icing of the cake. Amazing drummers providing syntillating back scores to the people having rotating fire circles in their hands and head. Drummers were beating with fire sticks on their drums and people rotating concentric fire circles. People carrying sticks of live fireworks in their hands, were constantly swaying them in circular motions.

Eddie grant, the singer par excellence was the next to perform to retro Afro tunes which truly reflected the spirit of South Africa. He sang in the Jamaican way the infamous tune ‘Give me hope joana’. IPL and Cricket South Africa have come with the novel initiative to donate part of its funds to the help educate and treat fund with constant and regular donations. Shaimak Davar sang ‘Vande Mataram’ solo initially and later fused tunes with Eddie Grant. Listening to this Afro-INDO Fusion, Katrina could not help but shake a leg with Akon or join in the singing. It was a visual extravaganza with the performers swaying the Indian Flag and the mid-air hot air spectacle of women acrobats.

The finale was an enthralling pyrotechnic show with display of about 1500 fireworks displays in all vibrant colours, forms and shapes lighting up the Johannesburg skyline.

The closing ceremony of the DLF IPL 2009 was chock-a-block with lots of entertainment, Akon, drumbeats, South African Bollywood beauty pageant and Phoenix fire dancers all culminating to make a life long impression. Winners ‘The Deccan Chargers’ took the grand trophy, cheque and the spoils. The Deccan Chargers and The Royal Challengers who were coincidently the second last and last teams in the last year, have significantly improved their performance by making it to the finals. But, it was eventually the Deccan Chargers who held their nerve in a tight situation to emerge winners. President of Republic of SA, Mr. Bindra, were among the heavy weights present at the presentation ceremony.