Apart from the IPL, South Africa is also enjoying the Indian culture which has accompanied it.

By Firdose Moonda

It was expected to be a noisy affair. A steady stream of patrons, 30,000 odd in fact, made a fair din just from their feet plundering the floor as they entered the Bullring. The chatter got louder, the crumpling of fast food packets clattered into the slurping of beer and the rustle of banners. Soon, the sounds became a steady drone. Then, the announcer caught the crowd's attention as he boomed, "Wanderers make some noise for Prime Circle." The buzz simply continued, unmoved by the clanging drums - perfectly undisturbed by the South African rock band.

Dancing to Bollywood tunes

Of course, the tens of thousands who huddled together in the icy wind were actually at the Wanderers to watch the Indian Premier League (IPL). While that held the most of their focus there was something else that made this crowd get off their feet. Not the magnificent pyrotechnics, not the dancers, but Alka Yagnik's unmistakable shrill voice which pierced the night like a 1000 pin pricks. "Bole Chudiyan", the Bollywood hit from the movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, ruptured through the speakers and the crowd found their rhythm. Everyone, from a five-month-old baby, who had earlier borne a look of terror so awful one might have guessed Sachin Tendulkar has been run out for a duck at the non striker's end, to an old man, who had to lean on the chair in front of him, appeared to be dancing.

Not only has the second edition of the IPL given South Africa the opportunity to host a groundbreaking cricket tournament, but it has also allowed the country to become importers of Indian culture. The ethos of that culture is most often conveyed in its music. South Africans are not new to Indian beats. A local radio station based in Durban, Lotus FM, which started in 1982, provides the sounds of the motherland to the Indian Diaspora.

Radio connect

Lotus FM provides content in various Indian languages, including Hindi, Gujarati and Telugu, and also has dedicated religious programs. Despite being based in the populous Indian province in the country, the station has a national licence and aims to reach people of Indian heritage no matter where they are based. An employee at the station, Krishnan Naiya told espnstar.com that, "the station connects to people of Indian heritage across the country and is often set up outside broadcast facilities in Indian communities outside Durban."

In catering to the Indian population, Lotus has been quick to realise the connection between cricket, Bollywood and the very essence of being Indian. As a result, Naiya said, they enlisted outside broadcast crew to Mumbai and Chennai last year to provide content over the IPL. While the station has no direct link with the tournament, they are covering it feverishly for their listeners, as well as providing the sounds of home to the travelling cricketers.

GS Vivek, a journalist, said Indian cricketers have been bowled over by the station. He said, "even though most have come with their own ipods, they listen to Lotus whenever they are in taxi cabs. In fact, they don't even have to ask the taxi driver to which radio station to switch to, they seem to do it automatically." Vivek named players like Naman Ojha and Pradeep Sangwan, who had previously travelled to South Africa on age group tours, as being among the station's biggest fans. "Most of the young, Indian players are starting to miss home now and when they hear a Hindi or Punjabi song it makes them feel a little closer to India." Lotus FM is not just attracting homesick hearts; Preity Zinta was on the airwaves recently campaigning for her Kings XI.

Don't be mistaken though, the IPL is not the first cricketing link the station has had. Naiya said, Hashim Amla, who is a local Durban-ite, is a regular guest to their sports show. While the station has gained prominence through the IPL, it's the Indian music that has been the real beneficiary. Players like Roelof van der Merwe find the bhangra beats "interesting" when his Bangalore teammates crank up the sound in the dressing room. Charl Langeveldt said he is learning a few of the words from the songs his Kolkata teammates play. Most notably, the music of the IPL has reached far beyond the boundary, inducing the crowds to really get up and dance.