A spectacular mix of Bollywood razzmatazz and high-octane performances by International stars were the highlights of a glittering opening ceremony which set the ball rolling for the fifth edition of the IPL tonight.
Published: Apr 03, 2012, 09:04 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 03, 2012, 09:04 PM (IST)
The fifth edition of the cash-rich Twenty20 league begins on Wednesday © AFP
By V Srikanth
Chennai: Apr 3
A spectacular mix of Bollywood razzmatazz and high-octane performances by International stars were the highlights of a glittering opening ceremony which set the ball rolling for the fifth edition of the IPL here tonight.
The glamour quotient was at an all-time high as a galaxy of stars, led by megastar Amitabh Bachchan, descended at the at the YMCA College of Physical Education and set the stage on fire with their performance.
Amitabh, returning to work after two abdominal surgeries earlier this year, started the proceedings for the evening with a rendition of a poem ‘If I were to be born again’, written by renowned lyricist Prasoon Joshi.
The 69-year-old’s baritone voice and inimitable style, coupled with a dance performance choreographed by Shiamak Davar at the background gave an apt start to the glittering ceremony, which set the stage for the 54-day extravaganza featuring nine teams.
South African percussion band First Project, composer DJ Ravi Drums and Colonial Cousins then took the stage and churned out their brand of music, setting the pulses racing.
Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra then enthralled the audience with her dance and heroics during her performance to the hit numbers from her films such as ‘Don’, ‘Don 2’ and ‘Kaaminey’, which even saw India spinner Harbhajan Singh shaking a leg on the stage.
India’s dancing sensation and Chennai’s own Prabhu Deva then burned the dance floor with his power-packed performance where he danced to songs from films such as (Wanted) and ‘Hum Se Hai Muqablah’. (PTI)
