Cricket is big in India. It has very high viewership and is followed
very passionately. This has its own adverse affects. The Mauka Mauka ad is
back.
The mauka mauka ad promotions which first appeared during the 50 over
cricket world cup in 2015 were a huge hit. These ads show fans from cricketing
nations taunting each other and reminding the other party about the upcoming
mauka (opportunity) to win in their scheduled encounter. This whole thing
started in an attempt to pique viewer interests by showing that a
Pakistani fan is deeply suffering his team's losses to India in all their world
cup encounters till that time and is being reminded about ( and looking forward
to) the mauka to get one over his counterpart.
The concept was then extended to other countries making it world vs
India. These videos were funny if you belonged to India. Viewers from other countries
wouldn't have always laughed with us.
With the onset of World T20 in India, the mauka mauka ad is back. Back
with more spite and heartbreak.
This time it’s an emotional appeal from a Pakistan fan to captain Shahid
Afridi, ahead of the ICC World T20, in which the fan, along with his young son,
urges ‘Boom Boom Afridi’ to show India how to hit sixes. The fan in the video says, “Hum log India se chaaro martaba, is baar
dikha do inko. Bata do ki chakka maarte kaise hai (we have lost four times to
India, this time show them how to hit sixes)”.
This ad has pushed the limit and has been made in very bad taste. The one in the world cup last time was not very cool but not too bad either. This time things have been stretched way beyond
acceptable. Reference to Afridi in the ad is making it too personal. The
outcome of the match will mean more important than ever and a bad result for
Pakistan will evoke the feeling that Afridi has personally let down
Pakistan and all their fans. This is just a sport but it is being made out to
be much bigger. The sad part is that the emotions that this kindles and its
reactions this evokes will be out of proportion too. (Don't interpret this to
conclude that I believe only India can win the upcoming match. It was terrific to see Afridi back in top form against Bangladesh).
Pakistan are and have always been very good competitors. If they posed
no competition, these ads would not make sense. Each encounter is intense,
highly competitive and means a lot to people from both countries. It could have
gone either way in many of the earlier world cup encounters. We have been
fortunate (not to be stretched to interpret this to mean that we were
undeserving) to have ended up on the winning side so far.
There is always political tension simmering between our countries. Sport
and cricket is one of the things which we have in common.
The result of these encounters should not be used to taunt or belittle
one another. It is not very endearing on our part to celebrate their loss. This
idea of fun at others expense has to stop. It is in very bad taste and
unbecoming of a mature outlook.
In these turbulent times in which the media and the majority only focus
on the things which deteriorate our relationship and show each other in bad
light, let us look at the positives and celebrate things which bring us closer.
It is a mauka mauka for both nations to enjoy a great game of cricket on
March 19th without getting too caught up in the result. And, Don't you forget,
It's just a game!
