Meet Mayanti Langer, The Face of Indian Sports Broadcast
The Quint spoke to Mayanti Langer as she covers the ICC World Cup 2019.
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Video Editor: Vishal Kumar
With the ongoing ICC World Cup following closely at the heels of the Indian Premier League, it wasn’t just the cricketers who have had a hectic few months. It is also the people behind the scenes, and also on it, who have been working day in and day out to make sure the games reach people across the world. And The Quint decided to catch-up with one such person at their place of work while India were playing at the ICC World Cup – Mayanti Langer.
What do you consider the best part of your job? Is it anchoring shows or the interviews and talks with the cricket experts?
Mayanti: That’s a great question. The best part of my job, I think, is having had the chance to develop a chemistry with some of the greats of the game. You tend to forget that a VVS Laxman has walked in. When people around you look at him and say “Sir, we remember what you did at Eden Gardens,” and then you get taken back to what he has actually achieved... We’re friends, we have that equation on camera, and that’s the greatest part of my job. To have access to these incredible individuals and yet be able to replicate that friendship or chemistry on air. I’m very lucky to do that.
Being a woman in India, have you ever been told, “You can’t do this.” Or have all your employers been supportive?
Mayanti: Well, I get told I can’t do things every day on social media. Dress like this, stand like that, don’t wear this. But I don’t think that’s subjective to just being a woman. The one thing you have to remember is that the skill that gets you here, which also applies for men. It’s not that you should have played international sports. It’s just that you need to be a moderator. That’s the first thing of being in front of the television. And that’s not specific to being a man or a woman or a sportsperson. And that’s a challenge that all of us face.
Do you have a mentor that you talk to on your off days?
Mayanti: No, no such thing as a mentor. Don’t think I grew up with someone who I looked up to as a role model. It’s just that family’s very supportive. My colleagues are very supportive. The one person who understands the pressure of being in front of… or rather being in the spotlight and being judged without someone even knowing you, is my husband. That’s why we understand each other so well. That’s why we have been able to support each other through the really tough times.
You have to talk about his matches on screen. How do you compartmentalise that?
Mayanti: I just do. I don’t have an option. There’s another way we can both look at it. One is that how lucky are the two of us to have been able to share something like this – where he has played for India and I’ve hosted India matches. And we’ve been together at events or tournaments. Very few couples get to go through something like that. So, we are special to have been able to share that despite the fact that people do judge you, try to take it out on him or take it out on me. But that’s the outside world. We keep reminding ourselves how fortunate we are to have been able to share this, and that journey together.