Top Indian personalities were asked to comment on the World Cup 2010 in South Africa. Here are their exclusive comments, undiluted:

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh: I wish the Italian team all the best, and am sure it will make it to the World Cup finals.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi: As a patriotic Indian, I second Dr Manmohanji's sentiments.

Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad: These Ronaldo and Maradona bakwas. They don't know how to score goals. See me, as Union railway minister, I met all goals. They must drink bhains milk. Daily, morning. Remember, if you do not milk the cow fully, it falls sick.

Actor Shah Rukh Khan: Lalit Modi did a better job of the Indian Premier League. See how we and all the players partied after each match. We would have seen more exciting matches if the footballers were treated with the same respect. My family is not enjoying the World Cup (The actor later denied the comment on a social networking site).

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and International Cricket Council president: I am flying off to Dubai now, then after that I will be in Delhi for some days and then I will be in Baramati, and then again, I will fly off to Dubai. So, you see, I am very busy. But I wish I become Fifa chief some day.

Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi: I respect the South Africans, but the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi will be more exciting.

Leading music composer Anu Malik preferred to sing his tribute to the World Cup, which he said, was all his own work. And, he insisted it be sung to the background sound of a thousand vuvuzelas:

Maka Maka

You're a good soldier

Choosing your battles

Pick yourself up

And dust yourself off

And back in the saddle

You're on the frontline

Everyone's watching

You know it's serious

We're getting closer

This isn't over

The pressure is on

You feel it

But you've got it all

Believe it

When you fall get up

Oh, oh...

And if you fall get up

Oh, oh...

Tsamina mina

Zangalewa

Cuz this is India

Tsamina mina, eh, eh

Maka Maka, eh, eh

Tsamina mina zangalewa

Anawa aa

This time for India

And, finally, we spoke to Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, who said (and we translate): Footubaal *&^%$ ^%$#@!# &&^^%$%$ )(*&^^%^% *, Worl Kup, eh, eh