Date:23/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/23/stories/2008082350650200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Stars to take up cause of cricket

Rayan Rozario

Musical night at PSG Tech Grounds on August 24 to raise funds

Namitha, Lakshmi Rai, Keerthi Chawla to attend
The funds to be used to create a world-class ground in Coimbatore

Coimbatore: After getting the crowd crazy with its T20 matches, the Coimbatore District Cricket Association (CDCA) has packed in its busy agenda yet another added attraction – the Nakshatra Saral – for the entertainment-starved Coimbatoreans this weekend.

Scheduled for August 21 at the PSG Tech Grounds, the programme, involving popular artistes from the Tamil film industry, is organised to raise funds to upgrade the facilities at cricket grounds in Coimbatore city.

“We have seven to eight grounds and we need to upgrade them in some way or the other. The pitches, scoreboards and the water facilities all need to be looked into. The funds will be used to create a world-class fully grassed turf ground in which Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy matches can be conducted. We want the cricket loving people of Coimbatore to witness India stars in action for their respective State and zonal sides,” said D. Lakshminarayanaswamy, the association president.

To chip in funds, the CDCA, which is celebrating its Golden Jubilee year, struck upon the idea of having a musical night. “We are expecting to give three hours of good fun for the sports loving people of Coimbatore. We hope the public will respond positively and support the show for the sake of the game,” said Mr. Lakshminarayanasamy.

Why a musical night for the promotion of cricket?

“We do understand that cricketers can light up the night as much as our cine stars do; but with the cramped ICC tour schedule we are left with no other option. I think the crowd will still enjoy the evening as we have roped in celebrity actors such as Namitha, Laksmi Rai and Keerthi Chawla to dance to the tunes of Deva and troupe. Tipu, Magadi and Malgudi Subha will also be present to take the crowd to a different world with their enchanting voices,” he said.

Besides music and dance, the Disoni Event Management Group has lined up a series of comedy clips from Robot Shankar and Aravind of ‘Asathapovathu Yaaru’ fame.

Sponsored by Zee Tamil, Raja Steels Pvt. Ltd., Kirtilal and Eastman Exports, the show, which begins at 6 p.m., is expected to attract about 17,000 people. Tickets will be available at all branches of Hotel Annapoorna, Krishna sweets, Rayappas, Hotel Anandhas, Kannan Departmental Stores and Nokia Priority showroom on Crosscut Road.