Mohammed Shami and Shreyas Iyer will not be the only ones with a Kolkata connection in action at Motera on Sunday.
Composer Pritam Chakraborty, once a geology student at Presidency College who grew up in Gope Lane in Entally, will be lending his voice when a host of singers belt out his Bollywood hits.
“We have been asked to perform in the innings break. The slot is of nine and half minutes,” Pritam told The Telegraph minutes after landing in Ahmedabad on Saturday morning from Mumbai. Sara Tendulkar was on the same flight.
Pritam has composed the official anthem of the World Cup, Dil Jashn Bole, the music video of which has him grooving alongside Ranveer Singh on the roof of a train, named One Day Express. “The brief from the ICC was to capture the celebration. I will be performing the entire song, minus the rap part, along with a medley of other recent hits,” he said.
With him will be Jonita Gandhi, Nakash Aziz, Amit Misra, Akasa Singh and Tushar Joshi.
“We came a day early so we can rehearse and do a sound check tonight at the stadium,” said Pritam, who is travelling with his son Purvash, 16, and daughter Mrignayanee, 14.
Other than the anthem, his top pick is Jeetega jeetega India jeetega from the film 83. Another track he has chosen from the film is Lehra do.
“We will open with Deva deva (from Brahmastra). It’s a prayer song. India ke toh jetate hobe,” he laughs. The medley will also include What jhumka? (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani) and Le ke Prabhu ka naam (Tiger 3).
This is not the first time that Pritam will be performing at a sports event. “I had composed the Hockey World Cup anthem, too, and performed at the opening in Bhubaneshwar.”
Shami grew up in Kolkata as a cricketer. Iyer is the Kolkata Knight Riders skipper.
“When I heard about this opportunity, my first reaction was ‘India has to reach the final!’” Pritam said.
“Our team is playing so well. These players are so mature. I am more tense about their performance than mine,” said Pritam, hopeful of a victory.