Chennai, especially Kodambakkam, still remains a place where dreams are made for people who wish to make it big in the film industry. And for non-Chennaiites, it makes it all the more challenging and exciting when they come to the city, get adjusted to the relatively busier lifestyle and frequently strive for getting that one big break into films. This Madras Day, filmmakers from other parts of TN, speak to us about whether this city really did make all their dreams come true!
Sri Ganesh
I’m basically from Kumbakonam. When I came to this city for the first time, I was honestly awestruck. I still remember… when I visited Nungambakkam, I thought it was like I was somewhere abroad! The Alliance Française of Madras was the place where I saw a play for the first time — I was surprised to know that the city even had such places. And at Loyola College, where I had gone for a film festival, for the first time, I saw world cinema.
I should say Chennai literally exposed me to the outside world. Over these years, the city has grown a lot — I love the Anna Centenary Library. But one thing that makes me feel a little sad is, the number of book stores Chennai used to have initially, has significantly gone down. If you ask my favourite hangout in the city, it’s definitely Sathyam Cinemas!
Karthick Naren
Being a Coimbatore boy, Chennai was always like fantasy land for me. And for young and budding filmmakers like me, even the word ‘Kodambakkam’ would give a lot of energy. The first time when I came to Chennai by bus, I had a lot of hopes and I strongly believed in ‘vandharai vaazha vaikkum Chennai’ and I still do. Honestly, the fast-paced and busy lifestyle here was overwhelming in the beginning, but then I got used to it. Over these years, I think the city has not changed one bit — it has always maintained its charm. I still know only one road well here and that’s Arcot Road! When you ask me about my favourite hangouts, I would say I love all the cinema halls here. Stuff of dreams!
Balaji Sakthivel
I came here on August 22, 1987 and on December 24 the then-CM MGR, passed away. It was a huge shock to me since I was a huge fan of him back then. I was in Pallavaram — I walked all the way from there to attend his funeral. I can never forget those memories! So, whenever someone asks me about Madras, my thoughts go back to this. I never thought I would live in this place forever. I was living in the outskirts, and slowly, I started getting closer to the city. Since I was hailing from a small village, I was anxious about this sprawling city. Now, after 30 years, I am a Chennaiite myself. Owing to the field (cinema) I am in, there is not even a single place here, where I have not set foot in!
A day is not enough for me to tell about this city. This place is the union of the whole of Tamil Nadu. Whenever I think of my native place, Dindigul, I would go to the beach or Valluvar Kottam, and I will surely end up meeting someone from there!
The British Library still remains a fond memory. Back then, they used to play three shows at the Sapphire theatre and I used to go watch all of them.
Imagine, I was someone who was living in the outskirts because I was afraid of this place. Now, I am a part of Chennai.
Susi Ganesan
I was born in a small village called Vannivelampatti, and spent about 18 years there. I used to get super-excited whenever I got the chance to go to T. Kallupati, a relatively bigger village than mine. But both the villages seemed small to me, when I went to Madurai for the first time — it was the most happening place I had ever seen!
But it all changed again when I came to Chennai for engineering. The city was huge for me, but I didn’t explore it as much as I should have. Apart from studying, I was also a student journalist back then. I was always looking at the city from that perspective.
It is only when I started my journey as an assistant director to Mani Ratnam sir that I got to know more about the city’s fascinating character. Today, I come to Chennai often for work, and I find the city more laid-back than Mumbai. It has been an intriguing journey for me... from the perspective of a village boy to a filmmaker, my view of Chennai has changed a lot.
