En Chennai

Guys, as a disclaimer i would like to mention as a start-up that I do not wish to offend anybody. So, kindly dun get offended and read it as a fun ride :)

As Saravan Bhavan sambar and filter kaapis and Murugan Idli shop’s 4 chutneys, mallipoo idli and onion oothappam are the face of the Modern grown up Chennai, none of us can forget the boisterous Brilliant Tutorials kai endhi bhavan (which is closed. DAMN!) and the thattukadais which have been the legacy of Chennai food’s street identity. Though nothing can beat the araichuvitta saambar and the yumm rasam to die for that is made at every Tamilian’s abode, we cannot forget the fact that we are also living in a new era of dynamism and vibrancy of Chennai-ism.

The fact that I am a Chennai-ite is not merely confined to talking Tamil at home, it’s also about respecting the fact that we are open to people pouring in from different parts of the Country because this is one paradise of the different opportunities that this wonderful city can offer. And just like anything, we are not perfect and we do not expect ourselves to be. We are content with reading the Hindu and The Times of India and definitely Business Line, in the morning as chaotic as it can get because we will never know what we need to know about which shares are bull-ish and which are bear-ish. As we recover from the chaos and finally drive to work, oh there is a traffic near Tidel park for half an hour? When we go to Mumbai and stand in the same traffic jam for an hour, at the least, it is the Mumbai Spirit, but somehow in Chennai, Damn it. :D

Chennai continues to be one of the cities that is still virgin. Now don’t let your mind wander. Even though we have Harley Davidson Showrooms and Puma and the latest Audi doing the rounds on the roads, we still take it to the nearest Pullayar kovil for a Poojai with lemon under the tyres and sandhanam on the wheel, for the prosperity and well-being of the car, and definitely the people sitting inside. Am saying that the roots are still very much intact and that is why you get to see America maaplais coming to find namma Chennai girls. :D

With maamas and maamis thronging every Sabha in the city luxuring lip smacking dishes during Margazhi where among all that food, there is a little to the entire purpose of those concerts. The ‘Besh besh’ for the difficult, breathless swaram that is sung by the musician is drowned out by the ‘Aaha. Enna oru kesari.’ :D Yes, we do listen to Dhanush’s Kolaveri, there is no holding back as Chennai  listens to Lamb of God, Linkin Park, Maroon 5, Mick Jagger, Marley and Metallica, (to name a few) at it’s best and divine form.

This state of India has been controversially criticized by the Northies who do live in Chennai, for good, and yet walk out of the room when Tamil songs are played. As much as our fanaticism for our language and music, we have never retaliated and just let things simmer. We are the clan that misses Vadivelu and his words are the order of the day. From the ‘Sssss..Shebaaaa’ and the ‘Me talking. No cross talking’ to the ‘Blive me babyma’, every part of Chennai and Kollywood is special as much as we ourselves laugh, criticize but nevertheless, still love it.

To all you Chennai lovers, Cheers with a super strong Filter kaapi!! J J