To attract viewers, Jallikattu will get a ‘facelift’ for television
CHENNAI: New Year brings the traditional Tamil Nadu sport of bull-taming — Jallikattu — like never before in Chennai, in a form specially made for television. The ancient sport will be made more interesting to appeal to TV audiences with different elements injected into the event. There will be an individual as well as a team activity, with five teams fighting for top honours.
According to the show’s creators, the prize money for the winning team is ₹10 lakh, which could go up as more sponsors line up.
Jallikattu had united the state last year, bringing it to a halt till the Modi government found a way around the ban imposed by the Supreme Court on the grounds of cruelty to the animals.
“Jallikattu Chennaiyil” (Jallikattu in Chennai) is the brand name given to this ‘edutainment’ event featuring the ancient traditional rural sport in which valour and bravery of the bull-tamers as also the breed of the beast is tested. The prize-winning bulls are used for mating purposes to nurture and promote native bulls that play an important role in village economy,” said Karthik Srinivasan, organiser.
“There are a lot of myths, lies and canards spread about Jallikattu, which is why we want to present 360° coverage that revolves around bulls and how they are loved and treated by the farmers,” he said.
Around 450 bulls, from 17 districts, and trained and expert bull-tamers, licensed to participate by respective Jallikattu Peravais, will participate in the day-long event, which will last for close to six hours.
“It is happening on this scale for the first time in Chennai. We are hosting 4,000 people from all over the state...” said Amar Reddy Prasad, secretary of Chennai Jallikattu Peravai.