In Super Kingdom, it’s all just business

Do not expect fireworks or a lot of celebrities at Chepauk on Sunday. This venue of the IPL is far removed from the glitz of the opening ceremony at Mumbai. However, there will be Dil se re singer Anuradha Sriram performing before the toss and, of course, there will be Sivamani on the drums, reports Nikhilesh Bhattacharya.

Do not expect fireworks or a lot of celebrities at Chepauk on Sunday. This venue of the IPL is far removed from the glitz of the opening ceremony at Mumbai. However, there will be Dil se re singer Anuradha Sriram performing before the toss and, of course, there will be Sivamani on the drums.

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Sivamani will have a busy day, performing from the main stage between the toss and the start before moving around the ground with a smaller set-up to celebrate each four and six the Super Kings hit. He’ll pound them some more for every wicket they take. When Deccan Chargers hit boundaries or send back a home batsman, the DJs will have to get the drums rolling for Sivamani, ever the fan, will keep a mournful silence.

Sriram is more of a name in south India but she also had her brush with Bollywood after A.R. Rahman tapped her talent. She worked with him for the movie Dil Se and Taal. On Sunday, though, she will only belt out Tamil songs. The Super Kings’ owners are keeping their focus on cricket and dispensed with the services of Tamil film stars Vijay and Nayantara after the first edition. “We don’t expect a lot of passes to be given to celebrities this time either,” said a source. As for fireworks, the source said: “There is no police permission for that.”