Enga ooru Chennaikku...

...periya whistle adinga... phee phee phee pheeeeeeeee!

Whew! OK. This post is part of blog tag titled The CBC Tablog and about 39 (the count is increasing by the day) bloggers write on "What Chennai means to me". This couldn't have come at a better time - a Tam friend settled in Delhi has been raining abuses on Madras (and that comes close on the heels of the criminal gang rape in the capital #epic facepalm)

Thank you Clement, for passing the game to me. Clement blogs at http://jollyrogerrocks.blogspot.in

I still cannot come to terms with calling this city as Chennai, so this post is going to have more of Madras references. I have lived in various cities - Pune (my home town), Bombay, Bangalore and have traveled briefly in Calcutta, among other cities. But, Madras is where I porukified during school, college, NIIT and post grad days.

I am proud to be part of a city with a rich heritage - a city that served as the British capital during the Raj. My Madras may not have a night life (oh it does, and some people don't want to accept it), but it does have a beautiful morning life, especially during the Maargazhi maasam. My Madras may not have all the four seasons, but it has its fair share of rains, heat, and a pleasant year end! My Madras may not have too many large malls (off late it does and it is the first city to boast of 2 IMAX screens and the first in India to have DOLBY ATMOS) but it has Ranganathan Street & Pantheon Road. My Madras may not host many firangi concerts, but it has the beautiful Carnatic season steeped in tradition.

The loud speakers, bhajanai ghoshti, kolams, kacheris, road side kaiyendhis, 5 star restaurants, midnight roadside dosai kadai, Saravana Bhavan, jay walkers, filter kaapi, to-a-large-extent disciplined traffic, hindu paper, mylapore times, madras baashai, world class schools, scenic ECR, marina beach, malliga poo, St. George's Fort, museum, Ripon building, MRTS, Central Station, tidel park, film institute, grand sweets, nalli, rasi, GRT, Santhome Church, Parthasarathy / Kabali Kovil, Sankara Nethralaya, Loyola / New / Pachaiyappa College, Ethiraj / Stella / WCC and other colleges, IIT, AR Rahman, Mani Ratnam, RajniKanth, Kamalhaasan, Ilayaraja, Richie Street, Parsn Complex, Gemini circle, Satyam Theater, AVM Studios, Vasan House, Pondy Bazaar, Burma Bazaar, Sujatha, Kannadasan, Nilam, Thane, Tsunami and many many more define this city I call home!


This is a city that rejoices at the first drop of rain and wears ear muffs at the first hint of temperature dropping to twenties. This is a city that doesn't need to worry about investing in heavy winter wear and storing them later on. This is a city that opens its arms to people from other states and is rightfully called "vandhaarai vaazha vaikum Chennai"

All said and done, whatever Madras may / may not have, it has a soul, and that - no one can take away.




Sun rise view from my abode!

followed by the morning kolam

Breakfast at ID, Satyam Cinemas


A walk in Besant Nagar Beach

Kili Josyam anyone?

Sunset at Besant Nagar



I pass the baton to GB aka Ganga Bharani, who lives in GB Land.  She writes blog books, short films, short stories and at times crazy articles. GB blogs at http://scribbledbygb.blogspot.in/.

Madras ku oru O podunga... Ooooohooooo!

Comments

  1. Kalakkals! If Hip hop tamila sees your blog post, they he will rap it I think. Super ponga!!

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  2. Good job. I am tempted to rephrase the note I wrote the other day into a blog..

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  3. Nilam, Tsunami ya kooda vidala neenga! :) Once, a North Indian friend came here for a short assignment and after a couple of days was surprised and told me, 'No one here fights on the roads, is it?' :)

    Nice pics, BTW. What is that guy in front of the schmidt memorial holding?

    Destination Infinity

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    Replies
    1. Haha. aama la.. people don't fight on the roads here! Of course, slum area la kootitu pona kasmalam kayidha level ku irukum :P And I have no idea what that guy is holding; shot with a 70-300 lens, from way far off! :D

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  4. Presenting to you Madras aka Chennai wrapped in the local flavours and seasoned by episodes of interest. Finally garnished with beautiful photographs. Here you are, crisp post to stay long in your memory.
    Thanks for this lovely dish, Deepa.

    Joy always,
    Susan

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    1. Susan, Thank you. Your comment is more interesting than my blog :D Love it!

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  5. Dhool machi.. now you have given me fodder for my article :)

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  6. Ok, now you've made me feel absolutely home sick !!!

    Captured all the essence brilliantly !! Way to go gal ;) Loved your idea of calling it 'My Madras'

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  7. The guy is a vendor holding a big umbrella upside down before unfurling it and setting up his stall / shop :)

    This is a beautiful post with every blogger so far outdoing the other by the time my turn comes I think I will be running out of ideas! Have to put my grey-cells to good use!

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  8. Brilliant..... as a pro Chennaiite i am moved.... Thnx a ton :-)

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  9. Well written, you did a great job... captured the local flavor of this city.

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  10. Petai Prose. Nice Pics to top it.

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    1. Aravind, I like that phrase "pettai prose." Let's pick some nice phrases about Chennai and have our CBC Chennai flavour compilation. I think Deepa is the best person to compile this.

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    2. Done. Will start compiling such phrases :D

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    3. @susan - Ada Nice Nice...

      @deepa - why did you put up a picture of that idly and chutneys? vaayila thanni vidudhu.

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    4. Aravind - idli chutney namba ooru special.. adha podama epdiii! Oru round saptrunga! :D

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  11. I enjoyed reading this post and those photos I loved them.. I would like to particularly cherish that "Satyam breakfast photo".. That's our specialty :P A small amount of food with several side dishes :D :D superb..

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    Replies
    1. yes yes as my mom used to say, 1 idli ku oru bucket sambar! :)

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  12. Colorful and lovely pictures :)

    Excellent write-up, liked the Madras touch throughout your post :) Loved these lines:

    "vandhaarai vaazha vaikum Chennai" and "All said and done, whatever Madras may / may not have, it has a soul, and that - no one can take away."-Awesome lines.

    Porukified, huh? ;) Hehe:)

    Keep blogging, cheers :)

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    1. I just wanted to add: I love your blog template, design, the name and URL. They are totally fab! :)

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    2. Thanks Sowmya :) Totally porukified - in all the streets - shopping, movies what not! :D The blog URL - i tried so many names, everything was taken.. and in frustration gave this name and it went through :D

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  13. Thanks Ashwini! And yes we should catch up soon! :D

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  14. Hi Deepa,

    I randomly came to your blog from somewhere, but the posts are fabulous. I loved this one as I am also from Madras. Many have asked me whether chennai has this or that and I think your last line - "All said and done, whatever Madras may / may not have, it has a soul, and that - no one can take away." perfectly sums it up for that.

    Keep blogging and happy new year !

    Cheers!
    Siva.

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    1. Thanks Siva :) Yes this city surely has a soul!! Happy new year to you too!

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  15. Beautiful photographs esp. the Besant Nagar pic is excellent! :)
    Bhusha's TRAVELOGUE
    FASHION PANACHE BLOG

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    1. Thanks girl! And I still need to get in touch with you for the LBD. Will do soon :)

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  16. Khanna sema post <3 it. When I read it, It was like revisiting my old times of Chennai. Lol

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