Photo feature of Madras at 380: Celebrating the grand old city of Chennai through its cinema
Here are some aspects of the city that are intrinsic to its identity, and how they have found depiction in our cinema
RaiIway romance: t has been a long-standing rule in Tamil cinema that to establish that a story is set in Chennai, all you need to do is have a shot of the Central.
How can one forget Devyani in Kadhal Kottai, running to find Ajith? It’s in this station that Srikanth and Bhumika unite in Roja Kootam too. ‘Idhayam’ Murali sheds tears into a water bottle here
Basking on the beach: In our cinema, beaches have largely been the setting for smaller, sweet nothings between characters. Remember Mannipaya from Vinnaithandi Varuvaya?
Malls of Madras: The evolution of Chennai from Madras can perhaps easily be documented by the arrival of malls. It started with Spencer Plaza, that even featured in a period film like Madarasapatti
Let’s move to the early 2000s, and you will see Vinay dancing merrily to Harris Jayaraj’s Unnale Unnale in Citi Centre.
You will see Jiiva’s eyes searching a crowd in Ampa Skywalk for his lover in Ko; you will see Ajith and Trisha taking a stroll in Mazhaivara Poguthey (Yennai Arindhaal) by the Express Avenue
This year, we got the Yogi Babu-starrer Gurkha which supposedly was the first Tamil film to be almost completely be shot in a mall.
Next time you watch a film, don’t forget to spot our malls!
On the move: “Meter ku mela pottu kudunga.” “Chillarai illadhvan vandila eraadha.” “Station vandhaa ezhupareengala? If you are a Chennaiite, these are everyday catchphrases.
Starting from En Kanmani Un Kadhali and Chittu Kuruvi to Arabu Naade and Thottal Poo Malarum buses have often been where our quintessential hero has met the heroine
While on public transport, there is no forgetting our autos, like them or hate them. After Baasha, all our neighbourhood auto drivers seemed like the Superstar. I
Flyovers and bridges in the city are also important shooting spots. Want to show a city coming to a standstill? A traffic jam on the iconic Anna flyover (Shankar films).
