Does Bollywood portray the real India?
The Indian Olympic Association seems to suffer from an overdose of Bollywood.
After the 2004 Athens Olympics flame run, when Bollywood stars were chosen over sporting icons to carry the flame, it was the closing ceremony of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games where Mumbai's film industry scored over India's real heroes of the hour.
Sure, there is much to commend Bollywood, but does it call for treating the film industry as India's sole global ambassador?
If you saw the closing ceremony of the Melbourne Games, you can be excused for thinking so, with stars Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukerji and Saif Ali Khan taking the focus away from the golden haul of Samaresh Jung, Achanta Sharath Kumar and other superstars.
Do you think the song and dance routine portrayed the real India?
Or will it push sports achievements further down in the popular consciousness?
