Decoding the Dhoni fan-boyism

Cricket has turned a new leaf in India with the advent of the Indian Premier League. While TV Ratings might show a steady decline since its inception, the impact IPL has had on the people of India and abroad across regions can’t be left unnoticed. The support for each IPL team has been unequivocal and completely passionate. One of such moments came when I watched the Deccan Chargers vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore match that took place in Hyderabad. Deccan Chargers were the holders of the wooden spoon before the start of the game. But you could still see the stadium filled to capacity. People came in with hope. People knew that it was their last game of the summer. People knew that the Deccan Chargers have, once again, had a terrible IPL season. People also knew that they’ve won only twice at home! But still the crowds thronged and you could see – “WE LOVE CHARGERS” – placards around the stadium. That is the unabashed love fans have for their city-based T20 teams.

Down south it is a common phenomenon. In a place like Tamil Nadu, you would realize within an hour or two about how crazy Tamils are about their demi-gods. You don’t need an IPL to see how things work out in Tamil Nadu. Some of these legendary actors who garner more mass than top political leaders in the country, have moved into politics for the only reason that the crowds simply love them and will do anything for them. The levels of fanboyism touches new heights in Tamil Nadu. People go to the extent of immolating themselves at times for their ‘idols’.

And then the film stars. Rajinikanth is a household name in Tamil Nadu. No one can dare talk anything against him. They fondly call him “thalaivar“. The number of fan associations these stars have is beyond numbers. The love and craze they generate is unconditional and come what may, they would never give up on their hero. Someone like “thalaivar” gives an average Tamil three hours of unadulterated fun. But the bonding between this Tamil and his thalaivar goes a long way beyond the silver screen. They follow their “thalaivar” very closely. Even if he is 61, he is still the Super Star for his fans. While no one else in this world will accept a 61-year old romancing with one of the world’s most beautiful ladies, it can always happen with Rajinikanth and Tamil Nadu.

When “Thalaivar” fell ill recently, the amount of affection the Tamils showed for him went way beyond the skies. They offered prayers across different religions. They went on fast. They went on to have “mann-soru” . And when he finally arrived, half a million fans crowded the airport. The route he took to reach home was filled with so many good wishes on huge vinyl boards on either side of the road.

It is an event in itself to watch first-day-first-shows of such on-screen heroes. For people from other parts of the country, it could be an event that raises eye-brows or drop jaws! Milk is showered on huge cut outs of their larger than life demi-gods. Poojas are performed and pumpkins are broken on the road to wash away all evils. It is an achievement if you can manage to even listen to a dialogue when you watch the movie on the first day.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is almost there with his own set of fanatics in this region now. For those who don’t follow Tamil film industry or the political environment here, IPL is the window that shows the world how much Tamils adore their heroes. Cricket in Tamil Nadu is a part of everyday life as much as cinema. While Tamils have a lot of on-screen heroes to relate with the cinema industry, they have not had too many cricketers from the region to worship. Even in the national set up, the success of Tamil Nadu cricketers has been sparse. Even if they’ve succeeded, not many manage to create an aura about themselves; someone like Tendulkar or Sourav Ganguly, for example. So until the IPL came up, the most loved household cricketing hero in Tamil Nadu was a Mumbaikar named Sachin Tendulkar. That enumerates with the fact that some of Tendulkar’s stellar performances have come at Chepauk. He has also gone on record stating that Chepauk is indeed one of his favorite venues.

With on-screen demi gods like Thalaivar or Kamal Haasan or Ajith or Vijay, fans could relate to them with their stardom, charisma and style. Apart from a certain Kris Srikkanth, Tamil Nadu cricket never produced cricketers who could pull masses. Then arrived the Indian Premier League, and Chennai Super Kings were born.

The biggest master stroke till date by the CSK owners will be the buying of MS Dhoni in that first auction. He was the biggest buy that year and was the costliest cricketer sold that season. Super Kings had a reason to spend all the money on one man. While Punjab had Yuvraj Singh, Kolkata had their son of soil – Sourav Ganguly. Bangalore were happy to have Dravid and Kumble by their side. Mumbai had Tendulkar and Delhi had Sehwag. Each of these teams had a huge icon to represent from their own land. Chennai did not have home grown super star who could be the symbol of the city. MS Dhoni was made one.

Honestly though, Dhoni has carved his own legacy with the Super Kings and their fans since then. What other IPL teams couldn’t manage to do, he did it for the Super Kings. Brand CSK had to become the biggest pride of Chennai, eventually. Tamils all around the world had something to cheer about when it came to cricket on the field.

There is an air of charisma about Dhoni. He is nonchalant, stays simple and comes from a background very similar to Thalaivar. While Thalaivar spent his early life as a bus-conductor in Bangalore, Dhoni in his early days was a ticket collector in Railways. While Thalaivar came through stage dramas, Dhoni’s cricket basics are from tennis ball cricket. Both own a style of their own and that separates them from the masses.

If not for the on-field performances, MS Dhoni’s rise in Chennai wouldn’t have been the same. He has managed to win the IPL trophy twice in a row and also win the CLT20 trophy once. Not once has his team finished below the semi-final spot. With all this success, he has made an average cricket loving Tamil walk proudly with his head held high. That display on the field now makes him a demi-god here. Many people think that he is among them, a part of the crowd. I don’t know how many people in Chennai, in years to come, would know that MS Dhoni isn’t a Tamil (by origin), just like Thalaivar. While Rajinikanth made it big in Tamil Nadu emerging out of a Marathi family, MS Dhoni has his roots from Central India in Jharkhand.

The Tamils now have a hero to worship on the field. CSK’s promotions, marketing and brand building exercises revolve around MS Dhoni, he is the image of their campaign. Ever since CSK was born, it was Dhoni’s face which reached the masses. Dhoni was at it again when they composed the theme song for Super Kings. The video at the end shows Dhoni roaring and eventually turns into a lion that continues roaring! The lines of Whistle Podu prominently feature Dhoni in it – “Enga Thala Dhoni-kku Periya Whistle Adinga“. Every time he walks on the field, Chepauk roars in approval. When Mumbai Indians faced off against the Super Kings in Bangalore recently, one of the posters read – “Sorry Mrs. I love Dhoni more than you.” That speaks volumes about his growth, his mass appeal and his following down south.

The day is not too far when you would be grilled if you say something wrong about Dhoni when you are in Chennai. On Facebook and Twitter, you have fans who love Dhoni much more than anyone in this world. Right through the season they make loud statements on public forum that irks anyone who supports other teams. They could be, on occasions, outrageously illogical. But that’s the way these fans are. They’d never drop their swords down when critics lay stinging attack on their heroes. Traditionally, it is a character of Tamils to show unabated love and worship to someone who brings smile on their faces. They, at times, cross the boundaries too. But that is all because their hero has made them walk with pride. A Super Kings fan is always near you – look at the way he brags about his achievements. Talk about Dhoni to him and you will realize what MSD means to him and to his people. Some fans indeed support Super Kings for the sheer love they have for Dhoni.

When Sourav Ganguly recently made an entry into Eden Gardens for the Pune Warriors, many experts believed that the love Kolkatans have for Sourav is much more than what Mumbaikars have for Tendulkar. Hold on Sourav, hold on Sachin. Now you have another competitor in the zone. MS Dhoni and his yellow battalion are in the house. They go nuts about their “Thala” and Super Kings!

Dhoni is relishing this patronage now because of all the success he has earned for both CSK and India. Go on the streets of Chennai, I am sure you would find Dhoni’s paintings on the walls, hoardings, Vinyl boards and your TV screens. And they would be as many as what any top Tamil film hero would garner these days. He has earned the love and respect of Tamils. They love him blindly. It is almost the same effect of what happens when Thalaivar comes on screen or waves a hand to a million audience watching him on stage. It’s the aura. Maybe you would realize the charisma of these men only if you are a fanatic like them. If you needed a better understanding, here it goes – even if your best friend commits a heinous crime, you would stand by him. Here are a million fans or probably more than that who love this man from Jharkhand unconditionally and trust me, this relationship will only keep growing!