Superiority.
Would it be a measure of excellence if the entire culture of an age-old city is transformed by the mere presence of one man? Or does it happen when a person’s surname becomes ingrained in the lingo of a city?
The jury may be out on that until the cows come home, but if the above converges, it really is something to behold through a cultural looking glass. And such is the impact Chennai’s favorite son Mahendra Singh Dhoni has had on the port city.
Thala, as he is fondly called by the adoring legion of fans, has rallied the Tamil-speaking city like no other player has managed to do in the coastal city’s more than 350-year history. So much so that the word ‘Thala’ itself has morphed into a term of endearment, a way of greeting and acknowledgment of love.
From cinema halls to classrooms, the iconography inspired by the 41-year-old has become a staple of the city, hardly a day goes by when the acronym is not mentioned which sends chills down the spine of any true self-respecting man. Chennait: MSD. And a series of references to the man who helped India lift the World Cup after nearly three decades, the southern city is renowned for its savouries and delicacies.
And what have people been spoiled with on-screen in theatres, the witty Dhoni never fails to amaze the MS-crazy audience with his quips and especially his one-liners.
‘Definitely not’, anyone?
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Every once in a while, if you’re lucky enough to be born in the right generation to see true greatness in sport, you get to see a sportsperson push beyond the limits of his or her particular discipline.
The nature of the player, the sport and the game itself can be specific to different regions to make a star man a demi-god. And in the vibrant Indian sub-continent, picking up a cricket bat carved from the many types of willow available at a maker’s disposal is a shortcut to superstardom that reaches beyond the limits of what we perceive as reality.
Especially, if you occupy the hottest seat in world cricket- the captain of the Indian national cricket team. The pressure that the team captain has to face on a day-to-day basis is enough to render even the most powerful of them prone to a saggy stomach, hair loss and wrinkles that pop up forever, Symbolizes the pressure ‘man’ is subjected to.
There have been captains, leaders and even legends. And then there is MS Dhoni.
As he was smack dabbling in ICC trophies left, right and middle, the man from Ranchi was building a cult following around his persona in the notoriously sultry area of Chennai down south.
The relationship between the city of Chennai and Dhoni has come into existence as a long and glorious tale of the favorite son of TN city from a different part of the vast nation.
The 41-year-old ‘boy’ may not be a fluent vernacular speaker, but has found a way to communicate with the sentiments of people who have long loved quality cricket, irrespective of which side of the camp Are.
The OG Ion player, who stuck to the yellow parade despite a significant decision by the board to ban the ultra-successful side from the league for a few years. Sure, Dhoni played for a different team during CSK’s away tie in the tournament, but, as the Chennai-dweller believes, he played only for them.
But, whenever he donned the famous yellow jersey, Dhoni didn’t just play for Chennai, he represented Chennai. He automatically became the flag bearer for a city famous for its cuisine, drinks, sun, sand and sports.
There is an element of emotion involved when discussing Chennai and the kind of empathy that flows from all corners of the city when you stand up for something that the local working-class crowd believes in. Surrounds you with an aura.
Chennai had already been swept off their feet by their skipper, who led the team to the final in the first outing and followed it up with a semi-final performance in the year 2009.
But, in 2010, the legacy was given a shine. CSK won their first of four IPL trophies, then cast in a different mould. But, Chennai didn’t have to wait till the final to declare MSD their own. This was just before the summit clash.
An old proverb from local scriptures roughly translates to ‘When a coward or a crow gets angry, forests catch fire’. And according to the promise of the famous smart society, when Dhoni’s color changed, so did Dharamshala’s.
Match 29 out of 54 won. Fiery thumping of fists from the most unexpected sources. An involuntary outpouring of emotion from Dhoni’s evergreen cut after the signature helicopter shot that propelled CSK into the playoffs in the most dramatic of fashions, before eventually claiming the grand prize.
That was the first and Chennai would go on to win another three. The size of the trophy was different the second time Chennai lifted the cup, the composition of the team seemed to have changed slightly, but the familiar image of the skipper handing the trophy to his young teammates and sliding to the back of the line to make the jump remained. Standing side by side with your boys, happiness prevailed.
The Champions League T20 trophy was another achievement in Dhoni’s big hat, having performed the double in 2010. Until now unknown since Kapil Dev’s heroics in 1983, he sent the Wankhede into delirium and sparked a night of celebration across the country that saw India lift the elusive World Cup trophy in six seconds with that free-frame moment. Delivered.
The ongoing season was supposed to be the last year of the big man in bright yellow in Chennai, which has pretty much tamed the mahi-mania in the city, which has given the faithful an opportunity to witness one last hurray at the spiritual home of the ‘Lion’. The clamor was to send. King’.
But, while the team’s management was expecting houses full of yellow hues with no room for air, the reality shown on several sets of telly across the city dictated a different story. The renovated stadium with an expanded capacity made everyone happy to bid a fitting farewell to the beloved captain, if he decided to call it a day at the end of the campaign.
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But, even the best-laid plans go off script. And this time, the sporting end of things was taken care of by the ever-reliable skipper as he managed to steer his team to the playoffs in what has become a matter of minimum expectation from a city crowd spoiled by success and achievements. Few of man love more than life.
What leaves a sour taste on the tongue is the number of seats that went unclaimed, perhaps due to the abundance of its concentration in some pockets and the unavailability of some pockets apparently not very deep.
Many ‘ticket-day’ riots broke out as legions of fans queued up outside the MA Chidambaram Stadium to get match passes, but returned home disappointed due to the unavailability of tickets at affordable prices.
The intense emotion of watching what is regarded as Dhoni’s swansong in yellow struck a chord as the monetary value placed on the experience by the in-charge demolished the staunch working-class background and ethos, but the spirit of the city and The passion they shelter towards ‘Thala’ in their loving heart remains steadfast.
We can settle for a moment in history that may never be repeated as the cricket-obsessed nation assumed the status of the all-conquering Mahi as a semi-god described in lore from Rome, Greece, Egypt or Gaul. increased. The crowd of people who have seen him turning into a legend before their very eyes will forever cherish the moments of magic Dhoni allowed us to enjoy as they look back on the memories of Mahi in the years to come.
‘Thala’ will always be Chennai’s own and this is one of those scenarios when love is reciprocated. Don’t take my word for it though, take it from Mahi himself as he pronounces his beloved team’s catchphrases to perfection in the many promotional videos and thank you speeches he has done over the years.
Enga thala dhoni ku periya ct adinga.