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By:
JBR
Today begins the football war that is going to excite the world. In Europe and Latin America that pay more football, it is not a game. It is a faith. The players are the deities. The greatest festival is the World Cup held once every four years.
The world cup begins today with the first match between Germany and Costa Rica. This match will be held in a newly built stadium in the city of Munich at 9.30 Indian time tonight. Built at a huge cost of Rs.1600 crore this stadium can seat about 60,000 spectators.
It is believed that football originated in China during 2nd or 3rd century. . Kicking and playing a ball made of feathers is a traditional game in China. The game developed subsequently in England, confirms this belief. In 1904 FIFA, the international body of football associations was formed. Football began attracting a world of fans. With the advent of World Cup first held in Uruguay in 1930, football came to be known as the biggest event under the sky and most loved game the world over.
Suspended due to the Second World War in the year 1942 and 1946, the World Cup got resumed in 1950. That is the only World Cup in which India took part. That was the time Indian players were not trained to play with the boots and have played barefoot which was not permitted by FIFA with the result India exited from participating in this event.
That decision casts its shadow even today. India does not rank in the first 100 top ranking countries. That is why not much of interest is shown on football in India. The only exception is West Bengal and Kerala States. It is wonder that these two States have very serious football lovers. It can't be denied that India has grown up to be a nation of football lovers thanks to the growth of communication technology.
An evidence for this is the film 'Bend it like Beckam' produced by Gurinder Chadha, an Indian. The daughter of a migrant Indian family in England wishes to become a famous football player (women's football) like David Beckam. The family opposes it. Made with the football background, the film became a notable success and gained respect for crossover films.
The seasonal business people in Indian cinema have also got busy in the context of the football world cup. Three films are being done in India alone with football theme.
Shah Rukh Khan appears as the coach for the women's football team in the film 'Chukh de' produced by Yash Chopra. Yet another film 'Yahanke hum sikandar' features Nana Patekar. Direction is by Ahmed Khan. Vivek Oberai is featured as a football player in this film.
Yet another film with the football theme that is getting ready is Vivek Agrihotri's new film.
Malayalees love football more than cricket. India's former football captain Vijayan enjoys a great popularity among Malayalees. Director Jayaraj directed film with Vijayan as the hero is also a form of respect.
Currently under shooting is Mohanlal's 'Maha Samudram'. Kerala's football fever has not left 'Maha Samudram' alone. Just two days ago Director Janardhanan has taken some shots Mohanlal in football dress at Chandrasekara Nair Stadium in Thiruvanthapuram without any connection to the story at all. The other player who played the game with Mohanlal is the former football Captain Vijayan. These shots are included in the film 'Maha Samudram'.
Similarly, the film 'Chacko Rendaman' in which Kalabhavan Mani comes in three roles also has a football plays an important role. One of the roles of Kalabhavan Mani is that of a football player. The film is made with a lot of football shots spread throughout the film.
The other subject that is being talked about in the midst of football World Cup is the city of Munich in Germany where it is taking place. In the world cup finals held here in 1974, West Germany won the Cup. (Then West and East Germany were separate countries. This is the first time Germany is playing as a unified country.) In the 1972 Olympics held in Munich, 11 Israeli athletes were abducted and killed by the Palestine freedom fighters. That event agitated the world and has remained as a scar even today. There is a fear that American team may be targeted in a revenge for American excesses in Iraq and Afghanistan. The German authorities have mobilised an unprecedented security arrangements for this World Cup. Thousands of operators have been pressed into action on behalf of German security forces, NATO, Interpol and FIFA.
Turning this Munich fever into an advantage, Hollywood director Steven Spielberg has produced a film titled 'Munich' on the revenge actions that Israel government took following the events that happened during the 1972 Olympics. Nominated for several Oscar, this film did not get any award. But it enjoys crowded attendance in theatres due to the Munich fever.
Hollywood, Hindi and Malayalam movies, yes. How about Tamil?
Being busy in destroying Pakistani terrorists, single-handedly overpowering local gangsters and kuthu songs, Tamilians will have to be happy to watch football in T.V. only. Can we say it is good for football?
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-09.06.2006
