A sea of yellow populates Chepauk Stadium ahead of the much-awaited clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The match has barely begun, but the mood outside the stadium is palpable and understandably so. “CSK...CSK...CSK” is the collective voice here. Amidst the loud chant, the voices that mattered float up in broken whispers: “Anna, T-shirt/flag vangikonga” . These are voices that have been batting for CSK, in their own little way. MetroPlus speaks with four local merchandise sellers who are always looking forward to a CSK match:
Gowri A sells CSK jerseys and flags
Gowri A
T-shirts
Gowri A carries her essentials — a stack of CSK jerseys, ribbons and flags — on the train from Avadi to Chepauk. She reaches the stadium just in time, a ritual she has been following for the past nine years. “There’s a specific shop in Parry’s that makes all the fancy products,” says Gowri. She has taken a loan of ₹10,000 for this year’s IPL, and is confident about repaying the debt she owes. “But the only issue is competition. Nowadays, lots of people have entered into this business, making it difficult for us,” she adds. Gowri cheekily admits that she buys T-shirts for a lower cost and sells them at a price of ₹250-300. She doesn’t know any of the names of CSK players except for Dhoni... and she does not need to know, since most of her customers tend to ask for the Captain’s jersey. When CSK plays matches away from home, she makes it a point to head to Bengaluru or Hyderabad to cash in on the sales there. “More than business, I wish to explore the city,” she smiles. Gowri has never bothered to carry the jerseys of opponent teams. “People hardly buy it. If the match is happening in Chennai and I stock T-shirts of the opponent’s team, I will incur a loss,” she says.
Gangadharan does face painting
Gangadharan
Face painting
“Peop le love cricket. Be it IPL or international matches, I’m always around,” laughs Gangadharan, who has been in the business for seven years. Luck is a word that Gangadharan uses a lot. In fact, one could say that he runs his business solely on the luck factor. “If you’re lucky, then you might even see a profit of ₹1,500 per match,” he says, adding, “I travelled to Bengaluru for the CSK vs RCB match last year. The investment was a little over my budget, but I made a profit of ₹2,500.” The self-professed Dhoni fan states that Bengaluru has the second-most Chennai supporters in the South. Apart from painting flags and CSK logos on people’s faces, he also does body painting. “There are some crazy fans who would want to get their body painted in yellow. Most of them ask for Dhoni or Raina’s name. For body painting, we charge ₹200.” Gangadharan used to frequently watch CSK matches until an experience turned sour. “I managed to get the complementary ticket, but the treatment I got inside the stadium irked me. The class difference was apparent and I decided not to watch the matches inside,” he adds.
Surya works on the nearby Marina Beach during off season
Surya
Whistles and flags
‘Wh istle Podu’ has become the anthem of Chennai and Surya ensures to keep the #WhistlePoduArmy well armed. “My investment for the business is comparatively low. For instance, the flags are sold at ₹60. But the actual cost of each flag is ₹20,” he says, adding, “People from across cities, particularly Pune, come to Chepauk ahead of CSK matches.” The first match between CSK and RCB was profitable for Surya, who raked in over ₹3,000. “There’s been a slight dip in business for the last two days.” Every year, Surya stands outside Chepauk, merchandising for CSK. But his desire has always been to watch the match with a frenzied crowd. During off season, Surya works at the nearby Marina Beach.
Sona and Akuna have travelled from Mumbai for CSK vs KKR match
Sona and Akuna
Wigs and blow horns
Son a and her sister Akuna have travelled from Mumbai. They do not speak Tamil, but understand where Chennai’s heart lies. “We don’t have a proprietor as such, and need to take care of our expenses,” says Sona. The IPL season is the peak year for their business, they say. “Chennai and Bengaluru have always been profitable for us, after Mumbai,” says Sona, “Though we buy our stuff from Mumbai, we need to carry it to the respective venues.” Akuna says that the Malinga-styled wigs sell like hot cakes. She adds: “Since we’re from Mumbai, the locals aren’t always welcoming and it’s very difficult to do business here.”
