Starry, starry night for Sachin at Sea Wind

Sunday night, was a double whammy for batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar as Nita and Mukesh Ambani celebrated his 20th year in cricket elegant and high-powered dinner that also rejoiced in Team India’s newly-acquired No. 1 world status and acknowledged the contributions of Messrs. M. S. Dhoni & Co. to the sport.

The dinner invite simply said, “One man’s triumph is everyone’s celebration.” At that time, as Nita Ambani gracefully said in her welcome address to the distinguished guests gathered on the lawns of Sea Wind at Cuffe Parade, nobody had an inkling that India would also top the ICC Test rankings with a triumphant victory over Sri Lanka the same day. But it happened at the Brabourne Stadium. And so the Ambanis — handsome and thoughtful hosts, included the Sri Lankan cricket team (so gracious in its defeat) to join Sachin and Anjali Tendulkar and Team India at their party as well.

The celebrations were held under a night sky of stars, with the Ambanis extending a long and warm arm of hospitality to everyone on their home turf. This had to be the first time that Team India visited anybody’s private residence, and Sachin — plainly overwhelmed by his hosts’ effort, said he was touched by their gesture. Mukesh Ambani, making a rare and emotional speech, said that in his line of business he never gave forward-looking predictions... but in this case, he was willing to predict a long and fruitful innings for Sachin.

A lively entertainment programme meticulously worked out by Nita Ambani herself, kickstarted by Aamir Khan on a personal note and flamboyantly finished by Shah Rukh Khan, which included cricket audio-visuals and dances, and a song by Asha Bhonsle, showed that in India — cricket and Bollywood are the truly the joys and highs of the people. Everybody invited to the dinner, from eminent captains of industry to Bollywood’s biggest and most beautiful, were either friends or fans of the man being honoured, or his privileged team mates, and said as much in short, heartfelt addresses.

Once they had finished felicitating Sachin, the Ambanis invited Team India onto the stage, champagne was popped, glasses of bubbly passed among the guests, and a toast was raised to Indian cricket and the one man who had stood like a colossus between the wickets and among the runs for 20 years. Sachin Tendulkar, the weight of two decades off his shoulders, visibly relaxed, shed his reticence and mixed comfortably with the guests. As did the shy Mukesh Ambani who was most at home interacting with people and ensuring that everybody had dined and had a good time... but then he was at home.