The 1990s were a decade of spectacular changes in India. That was when the nation let go of some of its stodgy old ways. Economic liberalization and cable television came in and transformed India’s personality.
Sachin Tendulkar was the face of that decade. He would almost single-handedly win games for the team, and he’d do it in exciting fashion. Game after game, Tendulkar would go on the attack against some of the best bowlers in history. He became a symbol of the new India, which was shedding its diffidence and growing in confidence.
Around this time, another name became integral to 90s pop culture. Not many comedians can generate a real belly laugh, but Cyrus Broacha did that regularly with the gag show MTV Bakra. The program became a nationwide hit, and Broacha a youth icon. Till date, he retains his ability to “kill” by saying something spontaneous and utterly nuts.
Now a podcast host among other things, Broacha is also a hardcore cricket fan. “I’ve been in love with the game since it was invented 10 million years ago,” he tells Outlook. As his dog woofs in the background, Broacha says, “Sorry about that, some anti-cricket people in the house are barking.”
Regardless of the interruption, here’s a chat with Broacha on the Tendulkar years and the Nineties. (None of the questions, sadly, were answered by the dog.)
When did you first watch Tendulkar play?
I saw him live properly when he made a double century in that three-day game at Brabourne between Mumbai and Australia (1998). He caned Shane Warne and everybody else. It was almost lack of respect [to the bowlers]. Sachin is such a well mannered guy, and so in a way, it felt like even more lack of respect. You have a guy with a swagger like Viv Richards, you sort of expect it. But here was a short guy, although with a very strong lower body, which people don’t see. Very strong hamstrings and glutes. The power came from there, and those wrists.
Sachin’s punch through off…this whole generation of batsmen plays it. Virat (Kohli) does it a little differently, but it is definitely there. Even Suryakumar Yadav. I was watching him before he had that streak of ducks and thought, ‘Wait a minute, the influence of Sachin is ridiculous’.
Another interesting thing was the reaction of the crowd when Sachin would walk out of the pavilion to bat. First, there’d be a hush of anticipation. People would whisper to their friends, ‘Aa gaya, Sachin aa gaya’. And then boom, they would explode. That happens with only a few players. What a feeling that is. My hair is standing up right now as I speak.
Many comics mined Sachin’s tics and his voice. As a comedian and cricket fan, how did you feel about that?
We created that menace. Vikram Sathaye (Broacha’s MTV colleague and later cricket host), who was very much a marketing guy at the start, would mimic Sachin and I pushed him to do it more because I found it hilarious.
Look, I think Sachin is fine with it. We became friends and have worked together often. Ok, he has a thin voice, he had a strange set of mannerisms. Mike Tyson has a thin voice too, but he’s Mike Tyson, you know. God has given them enough.
[Speaking as a cricket fan] If the jokes or impressions are done in a fun way, I have no problem. If the player is not happy with it, then you back off. Some people are sensitive. But I just think guys like Sachin are too big. What does it matter if some comic somewhere does a Sachin impression and raises a laugh? It doesn’t bring Sachin down in any way.
Would you have done a Bakra on Tendulkar?
I’m sure we must have tried, but I don’t think we ever got the chance. Even if we had got him, there would have been pressure to not air it. We’ve lost a few gags like that. Madhu Sapre didn’t let us air one. But I love my cricketers. If they say ‘no’, I’m okay. You got to love someone in this country, bro. And it ain’t the politicians.
Tendulkar’s career spanned three decades, but many associate Tendulkar mostly with the 90s. Is that the case for you as well? That was also the period you came to prominence.
I feel he carried a lot on his shoulders in the 90s. By the time the 2000s came, you had Rahul Dravid, who really is the quiet soldier of Indian cricket. If we think of second innings performances, Dravid was excellent. There were VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag. They made it a little easier for Sachin. He almost had the four horsemen of the apocalypse, so to speak, for support. But there’s no doubt that Sachin was absolutely at his peak at various points in the 90s. The centuries in Chennai against Australia and Pakistan were on another level.
Can you name some pop culture figures or moments that are quintessentially 90s for you?
I remember the band Silk Route, loved working with them. Shaan was coming up. Sonu Nigam was coming up. Daler Mehndi was coming up. The famous Cadbury jingle, ‘Kya Swaad Hai Zindagi Me’, that was very 90s. All the Pepsi commercials of that time with cricketers. I did one for them too. It was fun.
What do you miss about the 90s?
I miss no mobile phones. I hate mobile phones. Just imagine how much of our life we’d have back without mobile phones. We waste so much time with meaningless conversation on phone all day.
But what a career Sachin has had. From 1989 to 2013. Blooded against Pakistan at age 16, facing Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, who was bowling at 90mph. And they didn’t hold back. I once had the opportunity of working with Wasim and he said their attitude was, “Bachche ko sikhayenge.” (We’ll teach the kid a lesson). Ok, I’ll listen when people say that Sachin should have quit maybe a couple of years before he actually did. Likewise for Kapil Dev. But it doesn’t take away from them. That’s a decision selectors should have made. It’s difficult for anyone in any career to say, ‘Ok, let’s stop now’.
