Nerve Endings Firing Away

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has thrown up plenty of interesting scenarios that have opened up fresh avenues of discussions in the Indian media and the blogosphere. One of the hotly discussed issue has been that of importing cheerleaders from the U.S. and having them perform in front of crowds during a match. I linked Peter Foster’s post on DesiPundit where he invokes the daughter test to voice his protest against using white cheerleaders and added that his perspective was close to mine regarding this issue. Given the contrasting opinions posted by other DesiPundit contributors, I believe this calls for some explanation from my end (plus an excuse to write on the issue).

JK links to Saisuresh’s post on applying the daughter test and reaching different conclusions than Peter. Rohit writes on the lack of a culture of tolerance in India that often leads to imposition of a minority’s moral values on the general populace. In fact, I agree with both of them that cheerleaders in IPL or any other place should not be banned by the state or any other organization that isn’t involved with the IPL. However at the risk of seeing as defending Peter, I would still claim that IPL’s decision to use cheerleaders especially imported white ones from the U.S. shows a surprising lack of creativity for providing sports entertainment. Cheerleading is steeped in cultural and social factors in America and often being a cheerleader in American high schools is seen as a sure shot way to popularity. While I do not agree with the basic premise of cheerleading, I would be foolish enough to impose my opinions on others. And just because I don’t agree with the concept doesn’t mean that I intend to ban it although admittedly Peter does so in no uncertain terms; just as I told my brother that being against the concept of a Hitler-themed restaurant or bedding doesn’t mean I want it shut down pronto. Even schools in the U.S. have different opinions about cheerleaders. For example, my current university Texas A&M has no cheerleaders for their football team. Instead they have male yell leaders which in my opinion look quite gay but whatever rocks the 12th Man.

Although I think there are plenty of options to contextualize sports entertainment for India, cheerleading would be the last thing on my mind. Let us be clear, employing cheerleaders is less of entertainment and more of titillation; pun intended and just because NFL uses them to attract fans doesn’t mean the IPL has to literally cut-paste everything that NFL does. If they had put as much effort in coming up with creative ideas as they did in creating their media contracts, we would definitely have something that is both fun and enticing. After all, we are the country that remixed Bollywood golden oldies. Where is Himesh Reshammiya and the item girls when you need them? At the same time, I’m not with Bal Thackeray’s suggestion that bhangra should replace cheerleading because I know his suggestions come with an implicit lesson in dictating our morality; his role in organizing the Michael Jackson concert notwithstanding.

Although Rohit dismisses Peter’s claim of using white cheerleaders because they are fair game, I don’t think he is completely off the mark here; just look at the increasing number of white extras that Bollywood has today. I’m sure Rohit knows the special affinity Indian males have for the white skin even in the U.S. Just because the Indian male has a special fondness for the gooris doesn’t mean the IPL should choose to exploit that. In my opinion, it gives an appearance of pandering for cheap thrills when in fact there is plenty of action on the field given the recent games. Sure, IPL probably gains some in generating buzz but as far as I am concerned, they lose the PR battle. If indeed the white factor is not that important, I would like to see them replaced by desi cheerleaders and then examine the reactions. I’m sure the Indian public wouldn’t be that interested but of course, unfair comparisons to bar girls will not be far either. Or on the other hand, you if you have to then just make them dance to Jungle jungle baat chali hai, pattaa chala hai..chaddi pehneke phool khili hai phool khili hai.

Lastly, I agree that it might be an experiment that will soon vanish from the Indian scene but I wish the IPL chooses to focus on the one thing they have started this league for – to make cricket exciting. I believe in the IPL and the Twenty20 concept and wish this makes cricket more global. And to look at the flipside, the discussion of such sideshows actually exposes Indians to experiments that they were hitherto unused to. I’m with Rohit on this one that those who come to IPL matches to watch cheerleaders will do so and those who come for cricket will also come to the matches, cheerleaders or not. But does the IPL really gain in terms of public relations by those who come for the cheerleaders and for how long will they keep coming back for them?