He was known as ‘The Bullock,’ a name that echoed with power and respect. Whenever he stepped onto the kabaddi court, a surge of excitement would electrify the crowd. Young men and boys would press against the sidelines, eager to catch a glimpse of him and roar his name. Among these captivated spectators at a match in Puliyangudi, near Tirunelveli, was a young Mari Selvaraj, then just nine or ten years old. He watched the star kabaddi player, ‘Manathi’ P Ganesan, with unbridled awe. Decades later, that childhood fascination blossomed into a cinematic tribute: Mari Selvaraj’s critically acclaimed film Bison, starring Dhruv Vikram, a movie inspired by Ganesan’s remarkable life.
At the heart of this inspiring story is the now 55-year-old Ganesan himself. A celebrated figure in Indian sports, he dedicated a decade to playing for Tamil Nadu and four years representing India. His exceptional talent was formally recognized in 1995 when he received the prestigious Arjuna Award, becoming only the second kabaddi player from Tamil Nadu to achieve this honor.
The film ‘Bison’ brings to life scenes from Manathi Ganesan’s journey.
While Bison is a fictionalized narrative, it powerfully captures the essence of Ganesan’s unwavering struggle and eventual triumph against formidable challenges. Currently residing in Tirunelveli, Ganesan was recently in Coimbatore for a personal visit. As the head coach of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board kabaddi team and a Senior Sports Officer with TNEB, his phone has been buzzing non-stop since the film’s release. We managed to steal a few moments with him for a quick conversation.
Interestingly, Ganesan and Mari Selvaraj share a family connection. Ganesan recounts, ‘Mari approached me after finishing Karnan, expressing his desire to make a film inspired by my experiences.’ Over numerous interviews, Ganesan candidly shared his life story and the profound role kabaddi played in it. With the script complete, Mari enlisted Ganesan to personally train Dhruv Vikram. For over a year, Ganesan mentored the actor, transforming him into a proficient kabaddi player. Ganesan praises Dhruv’s commitment, noting, ‘He dedicated himself wholeheartedly to the role, willing to do whatever it took.’
Director Mari Selvaraj and actor Dhruv Vikram collaborated closely during the film’s production.
“Kabaddi is truly my life,” Ganesan affirms. His bond with the sport began naturally in his childhood. At just eight years old, he was already playing barefoot on the muddy grounds of his village, Manathi, in Thoothukudi district. He recalls, ‘I began playing seriously when I was twelve.’
For countless young men in Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli, kabaddi isn’t just a game; it’s a way of life, a vital thread in their community’s fabric. Ganesan reveals his family’s legacy: ‘My father played it, and so did my grandfather.’ He adds that nearly every one of the 50 to 60 villages and hamlets around Manathi boasts its own team, often formed by groups of friends. Teams like Jolly Friends, Lion’s Club (Manathi’s own team), Young Prince, and Morning Star proudly carry their village names as prefixes.
He explains, ‘In those days, vast open playgrounds were scarce, and kabaddi was perfect because it didn’t demand much space.’ For energetic young men, whose days were often spent toiling in the paddy and banana fields surrounding their homes, kabaddi served as a powerful outlet, channelling their immense physical strength and vitality.
After their work in the fields concluded, they would assemble for practice, often journeying to neighboring villages to compete against various teams. It was in these intense tournaments that local heroes emerged. Ganesan vividly remembers looking up to kabaddi players like Raja, Panneerselvam, and Suyambu Lingam, meticulously observing their distinct techniques and individual styles. ‘They were prominent players for the Thoothukudi club teams,’ he recollects.
Ganesan’s talent truly began to shine during his higher secondary education at Pope Memorial Higher Secondary School in Sawyerpuram. His Physical Education teacher, Thangarasu, recognized his potential and formed a school team. ‘I played for the school team, and from there, I progressed to represent Manathi and then the district teams,’ he shares. His prowess soon earned him invitations to play for the VP Brothers team and the Sun Paper Mill’s team, ultimately paving his way into the prestigious Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB), State, and Indian national teams. Ganesan excelled as a centre player, a crucial position typically held by the team’s primary raider.
His path to success was anything but smooth, marked by challenges and fierce competition. However, Ganesan was fortunate to have influential players like Raja, Panneerselvam, and Suyambu Lingam championing his inclusion in selection lists. His dedication bore fruit when he was part of the Indian team that clinched a gold medal at the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima in 1994. Prior to that, he had already secured a gold at the Nationals in 1993 and achieved a third-place finish in the Federation Cup tournament in 1995.
Ganesan reveals that a proper, specialized diet only became accessible to him after he joined the TNEB team. Before that, he relied on simple, traditional meals: ‘I mostly ate pazhaya soru with dry fish and a piece of karupatti (palm jaggery), along with the large ellu urundais (sesame balls) my mother lovingly made at home.’ His training methods were equally humble but effective. For strength and endurance, he would fill sacks with sand to sling over his shoulder, drag heavy wooden ploughs across fields, and run for hours along sandy beaches and pond edges. His signature move, the powerful head-butt that earned him the nickname ‘Bullock,’ was perfected by practicing against a coconut tree. ‘The tree eventually cracked and fell,’ he recounts with a chuckle.
Today, Ganesan continues to champion kabaddi, organizing annual camps for boys and girls from across Tamil Nadu through the Jesus Redeems club in Nalumavadi, Thoothukudi, with a mission to discover new talent. When asked if his rural upbringing was key to his success, Ganesan thoughtfully replies, ‘Maybe.’ He quickly adds, however, ‘But that certainly doesn’t mean a city-dweller can’t achieve similar greatness. Take Karthika from Kannagi Nagar, whose team just won gold at the U-18 Asian Youth Games recently. With hard work, anything is possible for anyone.’