Barely 48 hours after The Masters ends, ESPN’s primetime newsmagazine E:60 will take viewers to a different kind of golf competition. In this contest, caddies of an upscale golf course make their own clubs from wrought iron and play on a makeshift course winding through the unpaved streets and slums of Mumbai, India.
The unique story of caddie Anil Mane and his dream to someday become a pro golfer captures the dichotomy between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ in modern India. Narrated by Mane’s sponsor and benefactor Ashish Kacholia, this human story represents one of the hallmarks of E:60, which won two Sports Emmys in 2010 for outstanding journalism and outstanding long feature.
E:60 feature producer Yaron Deskalo discussed the making of “Mumbai Golf” with ESPN Front Row.
Front Row: How did you find this story?
Deskalo: We found out about the story through a great post-production editor at ESPN, Jason Sanchez, who spotted an award-winning photo essay of children playing golf in the streets of India.
Front Row: What problems did you have filming it?
Deskalo: Anytime you produce an international story, you live and die by the ability of your “fixer.” Fortunately, we had a great one in Ammu Kannampilly, who worked for ABC during the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai and was very familiar with the city, as well as who to talk to in order to get things done. continue reading…
