Bring on the glitter and the glam as the country gets ready tomorrow for one of the biggest and showiest extravaganzas of the year.
After all, the IPL isn’t just about cricket, is it? And Season 3’s opening ceremony in Mumbai promises to be bigger and better than last year.
Starting with a scintillating performance by international artiste Ali Campbell of the British reggae band UB40, who’ll croon the all-time hit song, Can’t Help Falling In Love, the ageless Bjorn Again will entertain audiences with Abba’s super hit Dancing Queen at the opening ceremony, which promises to be a visual spectacle as well.
But the best is yet to follow. A choreographed light show will announce the entry of Deepika Padukone, who promises to pack a punch along with 40 dancers on stage — giving serious competition to Katrina’s hip swaying with Akon last year — who’ll perform to a medley of I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas, Uff Teri Ada from Karthik Calling Karthik and Twist from Love Aaj Kal. Then the legendary Lionel Richie comes on stage, and, of course, R&B rapper Akon.
Says Sundar Raman, CEO, IPL, “The IPL weekend fever has already begun. But the real action will take off on Thursday night in Mumbai. Lalit Modi, chairman and commissioner of the Indian Premier League (IPL), will host a grand party at the Turf Ground in Mumbai. The party will begin in the evening around 8 pm. Entry is by invitation only. The guest list will include eminent people from Bollywood, socialites, corporate honchos, politicians, bureaucrats and cricketers. But the main attraction of the evening will be the performances by the international artistes.”
Sundar elaborates, “Day 1 of the IPL tournament kicks off with an opening ceremony before the match, on Friday evening. It will be a visually spectacular show. The opening ceremony will begin at 6.45 pm at the DY Patil Sports Stadium in Mumbai. After the match concludes, IPL officials and players will proceed to a plush city hotel to attend the after-match party-cum-fashion show.” We also hear that a lot of Delhi celebrities are planning to attend the opening ceremony. Says Delhi socialite Shaleen Jain, “I’m eagerly waiting to be there at the opening ceremony along with my friends to watch all the action live at the Mumbai ground.”
