Tales of Jayalalithaa’s crush on Nari Contractor and the timeless Madras Cricket Club

By K.R. Nayar
From M. A. Chidambaram Stadium

Chennai.  If you are in Chennai and don’t get to see posters of the late actor-turned-chief minister M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and the late actress-turned-chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, then the trip is not complete. There was a time when huge cut-out posters of these two leaders, and later of former chief minister C. N. Annadurai, could be seen in various parts of the city. A domestic cricket tournament called the MGR Trophy is now in its 31st edition here, having begun on February 20.

A poster of all three late chief ministers. Photo by K.R. Nayar 

Interestingly, J. Jayalalithaa used to watch international cricket matches when she was young. In an interview with Simi Garewal, she once said that she had a childhood crush on former Indian cricket captain Nari Contractor and used to attend Test matches specifically to watch him play. At the age of 91, Contractor is among the oldest living Indian cricketers. So he is remembered not just for his courage after once being hit on the head by a bouncer and going into coma, but also for causing a flutter in a future chief minister’s heart.

Incidentally, February 24 marked Jayalalithaa’s birth anniversary, and a grand function was held at the New Woodland Hotel, where I am staying, which was attended by top politicians. I was jolted awake by what I assumed was an enthusiastic rehearsal of Chennai’s famous whistle ritual by cricket fans only to find that it was the police controlling the traffic to the hotel. No wonder the police wanted to ban whistles for the match, as it has been hindering their work.

A poster informing the value of water. Photo by K.R. Nayar

Posters to save water at the stadium

This is a city that has wrestled seriously with water scarcity. Chennai knows the value of a drop of water the way a batter values a single in a tense chase. In the press box and at almost every prominent corner of the stadium, posters urge everyone to save water, reminding us that every drop counts. The sight brings to mind the National Award-winning Tamil film Thanneer Thanneer by director K. Balachander. “Thanneer” means water in Tamil, and the film dealt powerfully with water scarcity and political corruption in a rural village. 

Even a medical room for spectators. Photo by K.R. Nayar

Madras Cricket Club is the stadium’s pride

The Indian team’s practice session resembled a fireworks display without Diwali. Batters launched balls so high into the sky that they looked like rockets taking off from the centre square. Just as the customer is king, at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium the spectator is royalty. Fans here are not merely ticket holders; they are treated with reverence. So deep is the concern for their well-being that one even finds a Spectator Medical Room. 

Entrance to the Madras Cricket Club. Photo by K.R. Nayar 

This venue is steeped in history. Visiting the Madras Cricket Club, located inside the stadium, is like walking into the history of cricket in Chennai. It was established in 1846 and, like the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai, it is prestigious to be a member. They have not changed the name to Chennai Cricket Club and have retained the original name. The dining rooms and bars have cricket terms such as Yorker, Bouncer, etc.

The various room names at the Madras Cricket Club.  Photo by K.R. Nayar
 

Dhoni, Dhoni everywhere

Sometimes Chennai gives the feeling of being Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s birthplace. The number of advertisements featuring his photographs is huge. A well-illuminated sports shop named after him is very close to the stadium. At the trailer launch of the movie Dhoni, he once remarked that he was adopted by Chennai long ago and that this city is an inseparable part of his life.

A Dhoni sports shop. Photo by K.R. Nayar

Brook breaks hearts and Akhtar’s bouncer

Indian fans seemed happy that England beat Pakistan in their Super Eight match. So England skipper Harry Brook, who cracked a century to defeat Pakistan, has suddenly become their hero. A newspaper titled him “Brooke Bond,” as Brooke Bond Red Label is one of India’s largest-selling teas. Brook also broke the hearts of Pakistanis through a tricky and imperfect chase. Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has an uncanny ability to suddenly change his views about his team. It is often as unexpected as his bouncer during his playing days. In fact, it is like his reverse-swing yorker. When Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha was appointed captain, he was the first to welcome the decision. However, in a recent video interview, he has now questioned Agha’s leadership skills.