Call it Chennai, call it Madras, chances are that you'll fall in love with this city almost without realising you have.
And that is the magic of Madras, now celebrating its 375th birthday. There is no clash between the new and the old in Madras; the modern is simply allowed to exist merrily in the lap of the gloriously traditional. This birthday video,
Madras Is Beautiful by Madras Photo Factory, takes us on a journey through the streets and bylanes, the distinct sights, smells and sounds of Madras/Chennai.
We see Marina and Kovalam beaches, we see the compound of the lovely Kapaleeswarar Temple, we see Parry's Corner and almost feel the scorching heat and smell the filter coffee. Devoid of all structures modern, and all people famous (except in cardboard cutout form), this video pays tribute to the city itself. A city that seems to become ever larger than life with each passing year. Chennai is beautiful, but Madras even more so.
There are two versions of the video, one with a Bengali sound track,
Apur Panchali, and another with AR Rahman's
Unthan Desathin Kural from
Swades.
The first version:
The only regret perhaps, is that the video isn't longer. Perhaps a little more of the vast coastline with its frothy, often lashing, waves breaking against shore? And a little more of the merry-go-rounds on the beach, with a glimpse of Elliot's Schmidt Memorial?
But this video definitely serves its purpose - watch it and, for those who know and love the city, it will evoke the scent of fresh orange and white
mallipu (
gajra); the sight of those gorgeous, minutely carved temples outlining the indigo skyline;
annas in their white or checked
dhoti; and the sound of Carnatic music.
All that is shown is the video is Chennai, but Madras is all that and more: