The all-familiar ‘Whistle Podu’ ringtone interrupts Saravanan Hari’s thoughts. He picks up the phone gingerly and, in a few seconds, says, “I’m just another normal CSK fan sir. I’m just like you.”
It’s that time of the year when he’s always busy on his mobile phone. The media calls him for bytes. Acquaintances call him for tickets.
Saravanan is certainly not your average CSK fan; he is, as his Twitter handle goes, a “superfan.”
Like many Chennaiites, Saravanan is a fan of the local franchise, but he describes himself as a “veriyan” (crazy). “I have missed the team in the last two years. It’s been two years of longing and now that they’re back, I’m super excited,” he tells me just outside the Pattabiram Gate at Chepauk, a place as familiar as home to him.
He’s just back from Mumbai — where he got the chance to witness the thrilling first game of the CSK — and will be cheering for the team at Chepauk today in their first home match. “What could be more exciting?” he asks me.
Fame beckons
Saravanan has been a fan of the city team since the inception of the IPL, but what made him a superfan is when he arrived one day to Chepauk with his whole body painted in yellow. He caught the attention of the television and print cameras, and life has changed ever since.
“I get everything ready a day before the match,” he says, recounting his routine, “On the day of the game, I start applying yellow paint by 4 pm for an 8 pm start.”
Saravanan cheering for CSK.
Earlier, fans in the ground used to recognise him only if he was drenched in the yellow paint but these days, they recognise him even without.
“I feel responsible that I should do something for all this popularity and love showered on me.”
Biggest fan moment
Saravanan is a huge Dhoni fan. “He won us a World Cup, after all,” he says, proudly. The day he met the captain will remain unforgettable for him. “Since the inception of the IPL, I wanted to meet Dhoni anna many times but I couldn’t. But in 2014, there was an event arranged by the CSK management to which I was invited. At that time, I didn’t even know Dhoni anna was coming. When I saw him entering the venue, I was shell-shocked. I didn’t know what to speak. He made the effort of speaking to me...it’s a moment that I can never forget in life.”
His love for Dhoni is so well-known that he even gets leave from his workplace to watch his favourite cricketer play. When he’s not following the CSK, Saravanan works in logistics. “Even my MD doesn’t give me a lot of tough work. He says, “You cheer for CSK and Dhoni, so don’t take up a lot of workload.” I’m lucky to get such a boss and a workplace like that.”
Even the management of the local franchise has recognised his support. “Till 2013, I bought my own tickets, like every fan. But once people saw how vociferously I supported the team, the management of CSK started giving me tickets. But even today, I pay and buy my tickets. A week ago, when the counters opened at Chepauk, I stood for 12 hours to purchase my own ticket. When I saw it, I was overwhelmed with joy...and made up for all that pain and two years of longing,” he says, elated.
When he’s not watching cricket or at office, Saravanan catches up on Tamil films. “I’m a huge fan of actor Vijay,” he says, and quickly adds, “But I also see a lot of Thala Ajith films.” What if he had to choose between Vijay, Ajith and Dhoni for a quick meet-and-greet? “Definitely Dhoni,” he says, before entertaining us with an impromptu version of ‘Whistle Podu’.
Published - April 09, 2018 04:11 pm IST
