Why so much Hindi? RCB fans irate over new anthem for Dream11 IPL

Fans complained about the lack of Kannada and excessive use of Hindi in the anthem.

IPL teams often release new anthems every few years. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on 18 September 2020 released its new anthem which seems to have fallen into a bit of controversy.

The Official RCB Anthem is here! And it’s dedicated to the best fans in the world. Time to crank up the volume to the maximum, 12th Man Army. 🗣🔊#PlayBold #IPL2020 #WeAreChallengers #Dream11IPL #RCBAnthem pic.twitter.com/zUBMfSM4U5

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) September 18, 2020

The 96-second anthem, written by Sonal Dabral, creative consultant and ex- Ogilvy CCO and composed by Mikey McCleary and his teams at Bay Music House has angered RCB fans because it has excessive ‘Hindi’ and minimal Kannada, the state language of Karnataka whose capital is Bangalore city.

Fans took to social media to vent their disapproval:

The entire state is fighting a battle today to avoid Hindi imposition in the state of Karnataka.

Comes RCB - Which represents the state of Kannada Nadu having a rich cricketing history releasing it's anthem which involves unnecessary use of Hindi.

Embarrassing.

— Harish S Itagi (@HarishSItagi) September 18, 2020

Why Hindi in RCB anthem.? Please replace Hindi lines with Kannada. Otherwise don't expect support from us. #StopHindiImposition

— ಶುಕಮುನಿ(Shukki) (@sukamuni) September 18, 2020

I have nothing against any other languages but in rcb theme song makers shud have used more Kannada instead of hindi and eng

— •𝓎𝒶𝓈𝒽𝓊• || ʀᴄʙ✊ᴇᴇ sᴀʟᴀ ᴄᴜᴘ ɴᴀᴍᴅᴇ|| (@KhudKiDewani) September 18, 2020

Y yis hindi mor than kannada? #Waar
Seaparat kannada hadilva nam kannada fans ge
Paapa uella bejaru#Waar 🖖

— Mr. Nags ✌️ (@Thundrous0) September 18, 2020

Being a bangalorian i m feeling hurt 😥 we give our everything to this loser team but they can't make an anthem in kannada 😥 we were expecting anthem like "ille ille rcb masala dosa macchi ka tel you go" https://t.co/HWvJkoKYrL

— ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎︎ (@firkey_) September 18, 2020

An anthem is an integral part of a team or club’s popularity and relationship with its fans. For instance, Manchester United’s “Glory Glory Man United” creates a familial bond amongst its fans across the world and a major reason for it is because of its age - it was written in 1983 and has had time to settle in people's minds.