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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 1:54:18 pm

Applause for Cricket, Silence for Badminton

Mumbai: When Lakshya Sen walked off the court after the final of the All England Badminton Championships, he carried with him the disappointment of another near miss. The Indian shuttler went down in straight games to Lin Chun-Yi, who created history by becoming the first player from Chinese Taipei to lift the prestigious title. But the story of Lakshya Sen’s defeat is not merely about badminton final. It is also about the contrasting way India celebrates its sporting heroes. Had the same...

Applause for Cricket, Silence for Badminton

Mumbai: When Lakshya Sen walked off the court after the final of the All England Badminton Championships, he carried with him the disappointment of another near miss. The Indian shuttler went down in straight games to Lin Chun-Yi, who created history by becoming the first player from Chinese Taipei to lift the prestigious title. But the story of Lakshya Sen’s defeat is not merely about badminton final. It is also about the contrasting way India celebrates its sporting heroes. Had the same narrative unfolded on a cricket field, the reaction would have been dramatically different. In cricket, even defeat often becomes a story of heroism. A hard-fought loss by the Indian team can dominate television debates, fill newspaper columns and trend across social media for days. A player who narrowly misses a milestone is still hailed for his fighting spirit. The nation rallies around its cricketers not only in victory but also in defeat. The narrative quickly shifts from the result to the effort -- the resilience shown, the fight put up, the promise of future triumph. This emotional investment is one of the reasons cricket enjoys unparalleled popularity in India. It has built a culture where players become household names and their performances, good or bad, become part of the national conversation. Badminton Fights Contrast that with what happens in sports like badminton. Reaching the final of the All England Championships is a monumental achievement. The tournament is widely considered badminton’s equivalent of Wimbledon in prestige and tradition. Only the very best players manage to reach its final stages, and doing it twice speaks volumes about Lakshya Sen’s ability and consistency. Yet the reaction in India remained largely subdued. There were congratulatory posts, some headlines acknowledging the effort and brief discussions among badminton enthusiasts. But the level of national engagement never quite matched the magnitude of the achievement. In a cricketing context, reaching such a stage would have triggered days of celebration and analysis. In badminton, it often becomes just another sports update. Long Wait India’s wait for an All England champion continues. The last Indian to win the title was Pullela Gopichand in 2001. Before him, Prakash Padukone had scripted history in 1980. These victories remain among the most significant milestones in Indian badminton. And yet, unlike cricketing triumphs that are frequently revisited and celebrated, such achievements rarely stay in the mainstream sporting conversation for long. Lakshya Sen’s journey to the final should ideally have been viewed as a continuation of that legacy, a reminder that India still possesses the talent to challenge the world’s best in badminton. Instead, it risks fading quickly from public memory. Visibility Gap The difference ultimately comes down to visibility and cultural investment. Cricket in India is not merely a sport; it is an ecosystem built over decades through media attention, sponsorship, and mass emotional attachment. Individual sports, on the other hand, often rely on momentary bursts of recognition, usually during Olympic years or when a medal is won. But consistent performers like Lakshya Sen rarely receive the sustained spotlight that their achievements deserve. This disparity can also influence the next generation. Young athletes are naturally drawn to sports where success brings recognition, financial stability and national fame. When one sport monopolises the spotlight, others struggle to build similar appeal. Beyond Result Lakshya Sen may have finished runner-up again, but his performance at the All England Championship is a reminder that India continues to produce world-class athletes in disciplines beyond cricket. The real issue is not that cricket receives immense attention -- it deserves the admiration it gets. The concern is that athletes from other sports often do not receive comparable appreciation for achievements that are equally significant in their own arenas. If India aspires to become a truly global sporting nation, its applause must grow broader. Sporting pride cannot remain confined to one field. Because somewhere on a badminton court, an athlete like Lakshya Sen is fighting just as hard for the country’s colours as any cricketer on a packed stadium pitch. The only difference is how loudly the nation chooses to cheer.

The Complex Relationship between Film Stars and Politics

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

Film Stars and Politics

Scene 1: In 1984, Amitabh Bachchan, one of India’s biggest film stars, won the Lok Sabha elections, defeating Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna by a huge margin.


However, his journey in politics was not as smooth as his success in films. When Bachchan entered Parliament, a well-known politician sarcastically said, “Hope you won’t shoot us like in your movie Inquilaab,” referring to Bachchan’s role as a hero in the film. Despite his popularity on screen, Bachchan’s political career failed miserably. His association with the Gandhi family brought him into politics, but the Bofors scandal tarnished his image. Though he was later cleared, the damage was done, and he quietly left politics for good.


Scene 2: On 25th March 1989, Tamil Nadu’s assembly witnessed a shocking incident. Jayalalitha, the leader of the opposition, was humiliated when her saree was pulled by members of the ruling DMK party. She was mocked and insulted, but Jayalalitha made a strong vow that day: she would return to the assembly only as Chief Minister. True to her word, she became one of Tamil Nadu’s most powerful leaders, breaking barriers in the male-dominated world of Tamil politics.


Though her career was not without controversy, Jayalalitha’s resilience made her a symbol of strength.


Scene 3: Bhagwant Mann, a stand-up comedian known for his mimicry, wasn’t as famous as his contemporary Kapil Sharma. But today, Mann is the Chief Minister of Punjab, leading the state for the last two years. Most of his comedian contemporaries, except Kapil Sharma, have faded away, but Mann made a surprising transition into politics and succeeded.


These three stories might seem different, but they share one common factor— actors stepping into politics. The relationship between Bollywood and Indian politics is complex, with a mix of love and hate. While some stars have managed to do well in politics, many others, including Amitabh Bachchan, Rekha, Lata Mangeshkar, Kirron Kher, Dharmendra, Sunny Deol, Govinda, and Rajesh Khanna, have struggled to make a mark. On the other hand, politicians like Shatrughan Sinha, Jaya Bachchan, and Vinod Khanna have managed to find success. The biggest reason for this difference is public expectations. Amitabh Bachchan, for example, remains an admired actor, but that did not translate into political success. His association with the Gandhi family may have brought him into politics, but the Bofors scandal severely damaged his credibility. Though he was cleared of any wrongdoing, his political career never recovered, and his once- glittering film career also faced difficulties.


In contrast, actors like Vinod Khanna, Raj Babbar, and Shatrughan Sinha didn’t have to deal with the same level of expectations, allowing them to navigate politics more smoothly. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, there are many film personalities who have tried their luck in politics, but very few have managed to shine. The reason often lies in the gap between their screen persona and real-life expectations. In films like Nayak, Anil Kapoor’s character could make quick decisions when he became Chief Minister for a day, but in real life, it’s far more complicated. Though the film industry keeps producing actors who enter politics, only a small number achieve success. While movie stardom guarantees popularity, it doesn’t ensure success in the tough world of politics.


(Writer is a communication professional. Views Personal)

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