MADURAI: With Jallikattu barely a month away, a Madurai-based enthusiast has called for reforms in live commentary at the sports arenas, urging organisers to ensure fair, balanced and engaging narration during the traditional bull event held during Pongal.
GKP Mudakathan Mani, president of the Tamil Nadu Jallikattu Payirchi Maiyam, Goripalayam, said Jallikattu remains the only major sport where a single anchor delivers commentary from dawn to dusk, often making it monotonous and, at times, biased. He alleged that commentary tends to disproportionately highlight affluent participants or those wielding political or social influence.
Speaking to DT Next on Sunday, Mani said Jallikattu, a sport rooted in courage and pride, draws bull owners and tamers from across Tamil Nadu who seek recognition when their names and districts are announced over the public address system. He pointed out that anchors frequently skip participant details to hasten proceedings, denying many the moment of acknowledgement they seek.
Mani also said that anchors often fail to analyse standout performances by bulls and tamers, even when the number of participants is reduced to shorten the event's duration. Bulls and participants are allowed into the arena in batches throughout the day, he noted, and suggested that commentary anchors, too, should be rotated at regular intervals.
To improve transparency and spectator engagement, he further proposed displaying performance scores of bulls and tamers for each round, on the lines of other competitive sports. Such measures, he said, would help elevate Jallikattu to the next level while preserving its traditional spirit.