A Story of Yellow Hearts

A month ago, in anticipation of the next Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Chennai Super Kings looked to two well-known figures and a recent chart-topper to pique fans’ interest. The social media staff of CSK referred to it as “A gift for the fans.” A sequence from Vijay’s film Leo was recreated for the Instagram clip. In it, the frame of a picture is smashed with a sledgehammer.

When it breaks, MS Dhoni (Vijay in the movie) appears. Anirudh Ravichander’s “he’s a freakin’ badass” begins to play as Dhoni’s visage appears. With over 45 million views, 3.9 million likes, 83.8 thousand comments, and 1.4 million direct messages as of this writing, it’s one of the most viewed reels ever released by an IPL team.

This 89-second film best captures the metamorphosis this Bihar-born, Uttarakhand-bred, Jharkhand-based player has caused in the Tamil mind. When he debuted in 2008, sporting Chennai’s now-iconic yellow, he was a promising young guy. After sixteen years, he is a feature-length picture.

booming. Huge. Magnificent. excessive. Similar to how the city enjoys its heroes (ironically, Dhoni is unquestionably not one of them).

The past may be a peculiar entity. It feels like a long time ago—2008. The rhythms of today were really recognizable back then. The party in power was the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, and Vijay have films. For many months, an AR Rahman song was the unofficial anthem.

However, it’s possible that Chennaians were justified in their enthusiastic rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Times They Are A-Changin.” A brand-new sports team has gained prominence. The new $1.5 million signing was the main draw at the Chennai Trade Center at the new franchise’s jersey introduction.

The compere gave Dhoni the mike as the evening’s events drew to a close. He’d remarked, “You would be speaking to the fans in Tamil by the end of your time here.” “Don’t know about that, but I will try to win you trophies,” was Dhoni’s response. The wicketkeeper continued, saying, “Romba nandri (thank you),” as he has always enjoyed playing to the crowd.

Because he is solitary, Dhoni is the one exception that complies with the norm. The best of the best.
His accomplishments include five IPL championships (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023) and two Champions League T20s (2010 and 2014). Even if he doesn’t speak Tamil very often, individuals in this state will do anything to express their devotion after they’ve fallen in love. An actual, live example of such is Rajinikanth.

But Dhoni has gone above and beyond anything Rajinikanth could do. In terms of fandom, this state of more than 7.2 crore people deals in binary terms. There has always been an alternative, from politicians like M Karunanidhi or J Jayalalithaa to three generations of movie stars like Sivaji Ganesan or MG Ramachandran, Rajinikanth or Kamal Haasan, and Vijay or Ajith, to artists like Ilaiyaraaja or Rahman.

Because he is solitary, Dhoni is the one exception that complies with the norm. The best of the best.

The tremendous risk the owners made in hedging their bets on a long-haired maverick whose road to the top was very picturesque has been overlooked in all the hoopla around Dhoni’s signing. “Remember that almost all of the other teams in that auction had an iconic player,” the club CEO, Kasi Viswanathan, said in a 2020 interview with this newspaper. We were certain that he would become a legend when we pursued him. He had previously led the team to victory in the World T20 Championship. We had no doubt that he would go down in mythology.

The decision to pass on an icon player was also calculated. They didn’t want to shell out fifteen percent more for an icon player since they had their eye on Dhoni throughout the auction. That would have meant that two players would have received more than $3 million of the $5 million payout. For the last 16 years, Dhoni has been doing calculations similar to these while on the field.

Stories of sportsmen becoming emblems of their birthplace abound in sports history – Steven Gerrard and Liverpool, for example. However, a foreigner readily blending into an almost foreign culture? There aren’t many instances. Diego Maradona and Naples continue to be one of the greatest examples of this phenomena, but Dhoni has, in his own way, taken on the role of adopted son.

Though he hasn’t spoken about Chennai enough, deeds speak louder than words. A few instances sprang to mind. Not exactly renowned for his Public Display of Affection, Dhoni posted a picture of himself on Instagram after the suspension of the team. He had worn a CSK shirt with the word “THALA” printed on the back. Never mind that he played for a different club in the IPL final the year before. He felt at ease doing this since he knew Chennai felt the same way about him.

The 42-year-old prefers to stay out of the spotlight. It is not his style to provide suggestions to the content team; instead, he prefers to work alone while setting his own limitations. However, he made a special effort in 2018 to guarantee that the group adhered to the original “Whistle podu” hymn.

The 2018 squad’s return was supposed to be a carnival. The creative team thus desired a hit song appropriate for the event. The narrative is told by S Chockalingam, whose agency once managed the business. “Dhoni himself came up with the idea when we were wondering what to do,” he explains. Why alter our original hymn at all? Hold onto “Whistle podu.”

They were able to get the former captain of India to participate in the shoot in this way. Dhoni agreed to participate in the filming only if “Whistle podu” would have a major role.

Returning to the video, you’ll see that they give a reference to “Baasha” and “Kabali” early on, but the sound engineer is having trouble achieving the proper balance of “mass” in the scene. At that point, Dhoni personally instructs the players to remain with “our song” (perhaps an easter egg).

It is astonishing that Dhoni is still the only cricket player to be featured prominently in a team song, sixteen years after the song’s debut. Blowing a loud whistle for our captain, Dhoni, is called Enga thala Dhoni kku periya whistle adinga.

Maybe it shouldn’t come as a surprise that governing administrations have utilized his name when the public loves him so much. “You may be from Jharkhand, but we the people of Tamil Nadu love you as one among us,” said MK Stalin, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, at an event in 2021. “If Tamilians are known for being hardcore (Pacha thamizhan), then Dhoni is a manja thamizhan,” the chief minister said, referring to a Tamilian who is dressed in yellow.

The 22-yard stroll from the dressing room to the field by Virat Kohli alone was worth the expensive entry price.
Fandom is based on the core tenet that “it doesn’t come with a satisfaction guarantee.” Dhoni is once again the exception to the norm.

When Dhoni took the field to bat in the first game of the 2023 edition, this much was certain. The high entry cost was worth it for that measured, very Dhoni stroll from the changing room to the 22-yard line. The stadium sounded like a mosh pit with a circular wall of yellow creating an electrifying atmosphere.

You’ll understand if you listen to a few supporters. According to Harish Rajagopalan, “Dhoni is happiness to me.” I feel joyful when I look at him. I have a section on Instagram named “sport.” Almost all of it is Dhoni. “He is the epitome of my dream leader—someone who believes in the system, follows instructions, maintains composure under pressure, and handles outcomes with poise.”

Harini R, who has attended many games at the stadium, concurs. “He is a feeling,” she declares. He is the embodiment of composure. You are aware that he deliberates and considers all options. The supporters feel more secure as a result.

The argument that Dhoni is comparable to the larger-than-life movie stars in Tamil Nadu is accepted by both of them. Co-founder of an education non-profit Harini says, “I would agree.” “A big part of it is people returning the devotion that Dhoni has (exhibited). Of course, there are more variables at play. Though he was able to switch teams, he chose not to. He has many of the characteristics of a Tamil individual.

Product manager Harish, 36, who has been attending Chennai games for more than ten years, continues, saying, “As far as capturing the mind of the public concerned, he’s definitely there.”

As a leader, Ashwath Ram was close to Dhoni and is among those who see a journey to Chepauk as a religious experience. He adds, “I wouldn’t box Dhoni as an emotion or as simply another cricket player.” “He seems mysterious to me. That’s what pulls me in to him. There’s an air of surrealism about him and his approach to the game, his demeanor, his way of thinking, his leadership style, and so on. It stands in sharp contrast to the loud, outspoken, and passionate leaders that we have seen in the past.

Dhoni will represent many things to the people of Chennai, including joy, passion, leadership, hope, and understatement. However, there is no denying the bond between them.

When Dhoni addressed the audience during the audio premiere of Let’s Get Married, his first project under his production company, he did it with this in mind as well. In 2023, he had said, “I believe in destiny and this film was destined to happen in Tamil.” “Chennai is the city where I took my first test and achieved my best result. In terms of cricket, Chennai has given me a lot to be proud of. I believe the city and I are bound together.

To really appreciate the devotion that the public has for Dhoni, one must watch another Instagram clip that the team has released. They unveiled a collection of images from the night they won the championship paired to Guna’s music a few weeks ago.

The hoi polloi may have found it simple to ignore the main sports team in the city. For much of their lives, three have been under lock and key. A two-year ban was imposed after a betting scandal. They play their home games distant from home, which causes a water conflict. A more recent accusation was that not many tickets were being sold to the typical fan (theory varying from outrageous to absurd on where these tickets were going). The white noise was really threatening to run a magnificent sports cathedral aground.

Still, it’s a love that has persevered and will do so through thick and thin, sunshine and rain, cellar dwellers and table toppers.

Manithar Deshmukalla

Ithu Kaadhal Alla Manitha

Thami Adhaiyum Punithaamaanathu

A love that is so pure that it may have been crafted from 24-carat gold.