The BCCI has gone Bollywood for the (IND vs PAK) India vs Pakistan pre-match show at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. For arguably the most hyped-up match in ODI World Cup 2023, the Indian board has roped in the art director who has experience of working in the mega-hit films like Jodha Akbar, Jawan and Lagaan.
Nothing about an India vs Pakistan game can be left to chance; even those responsible for planning the pre-game show adhere to a procedure and know that repetition would help them get better at what they do.
From the practice fields to the storage area beneath the stadium roof, a temporary stage measuring 40 by 36 meters will be disassembled before the match. The 100 or so strong men will have nine minutes to finish the work; currently they are doing so in four.
This team will have 15 minutes to clean the area on D-Day in between Bollywood playback singer Shankar Mahadevan singing on stage and openers dancing along the course.
BCCI-Bollywood connection in IND vs PAK
Given that they are accustomed to being among movie stars, the workers at Narendra Modi Stadium are more thrilled to watch the cricketers.
Prashant Vichare, the show’s art director, is the leader of the group. He worked as Nitin Desai’s assistant before starting his own business, Jasmine Arts.
In addition to working on high-profile Bollywood movies, Vichare’s company specializes in athletic events.
“We have a stage that can support about 200 people without harming the ground underneath. We completed the opening ceremonies for the IPL and WPL, and we will next attend the Goa National Games,” Vichare told Indian Express. He has also worked on movies like Lagaan, Jodha Akbar, and Jawan.
Some employees claim that the only cricket they have ever played was in the movie Lagaan, which stars Aamir Khan and tells the story of a rural team that defeats English players under the Raj.
“Compared to Lagaan, this is nothing; we had to construct a complete village during our six months in Bhuj. Although its settings were merely in the film city, Jodha Akbar was similarly difficult,” according to Vichare.
There are 60 employees from Ahmedabad and 23 workers, primarily of Tamil descent, from Mumbai in his squad. Mumbai natives have experience in the motion picture business.
When Indian coach Rahul Dravid and his team of support personnel arrived early in the afternoon on Thursday, the grass on the center was the focus.
With the curator and representatives of the Gujarat Cricket Association, they spoke for a while. The Pakistan pacers Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf were also seen inspecting the ground later in the day while playing under lights. As the adage goes, preparations are underway for this World Cup’s biggest game.
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