OPINION: IPL On Disney Plus Hotstar: Coffers Over Coffin

IPL during COVID 19: good, bad or ugly? An opinion piece by Siddhartha Laik

It’s repugnant. Almost macabre. It’s akin to that dirty ugly distasteful burp that makes one’s muscles twitch in disgust after having a meal which is unbearingly unsavoury and grotty.

It is, indeed!!!

The ongoing IPL season on Disney Plus Hotstar network is a smearing slap on the face of millions as India stands ravaged under the ravenous claws of COVID 19. It’s the horrendous, harrowing wallowing of the willows as burning pyres mist the skies in pain and despair.

But who cares as long as Virat Kohli hits the winning runs or Shah Rukh Khan cheers for his team as people lie dying on the streets, ripped off shamelessly of the basic rights to live and breathe.

No, we are not saying that the show must not go on. But to call IPL a welcome distraction from the ground reality is mercilessly morbid.

IPL is all about coffers and it’s a gimmick to sell products, induce people to buy and get drenched in crass consumerism at a time when lakhs have lost lives and livelihoods.

Have no shame, do you?

The tournament will continue, almost like in a parallel universe, all hunky dory, while bodies pile up as cases increase day by day.

Keep clapping, joking and looking away like a perfect escapist while shit hits the ceiling…pardon our language, but finesse has died a sad death a long time ago, probably due to lack of oxygen too.

Our basic problem: When health infrastructure is under tremendous pressure, why special treatment is being meted out to IPL players and organisers as part of COVID safety? What should we be more concerned about: a child dying due to a lack of beds or who is on top of the IPL table?

Add to that, the high chances of spreading the disease. Many cricketers have tested positive, many have left in fear or by a prick in consciousness, yet the buffoonery continues.

Why risk lives? Why eat into already stretched medical resources? Why the gratuitous greed?

We sought some answers and we did write to the spokespersons at Disney Plus Hotstar. And we were not surprised with the revert.

“Hi Siddhartha,

Thank you for writing in. We will not be able to take this ahead at the moment.

Please do reach out for any other queries you may have.”

What other queries? How many more deaths before sense prevails?

IPL has sadly earned the sobriquet, the Indian Profit League. Watch it, get credit points, enjoy… while people die.

Is Rahul Dravid not angry yet?

Follow us on News
About The Author
Siddhartha Laik: With over 10 years of experience in media and entertainment, Siddhartha believes in the importance of attitude over aptitude. With Masters in English Literature from Fergusson College, Pune (First Class) and a Diploma in Journalism, he has immense knowledge in diverse fields of editorial, content creation, effective communication, team building, leadership, motivational speaking, personality development, success principles, digital, print and broadcast media, soft skills et al. “In today’s time it is all about multi-tasking. An individual has immense potential to break notions and conventions and explore unchartered territories. All one needs to do is work hard on self development and BELIEVE”-Siddhartha After being part of editorial teams in organizations like Times of India, Mid Day, Magna Publication, Indian Express, Sakaal Times, Indiantelevision.com Pvt Ltd Group, in capacity ranging from a reporter to Managing Editor & Head of Business, Siddhartha is the Founder & Editor-in-chief at IWMBuzz (earlier known as IndianWikiMedia). His role includes heading editorial, building and motivating teamforce, crisis management, business strategy and launching new properties. A communicator par excellence, a motivator, a leader, an innovator, a risk taker, Siddhartha was awarded the Best Student in his journalism course and has also featured on India TV as a commentator, Bigg Boss as a news seeker, and is a visiting faculty in multiple media institutions. His hobbies include playing a guitar, reading and writing fiction literature, debating and discussing on current affairs and watching superhero movies.