With apologies and thanks to Claude Monet
People look at Madras and claim to understand it, when it is enough to merely love it.
Gujju rap not as good as Tamil rap/hip-hop
Well, they try. But can they even match the brilliance of our folks?
[Gujju rap via Gaurav Sabnis]
Nakulan’s wants
A roll of veththalai, I want
And lime and nuts and the works.
To wash it down, water. And a flask
of ice. And oh, a bottle of rum.
Bring me smokes.
Bring me a light.
Don’t forget to bring me yourself.
My friend, now that I am dying,
I want your conversation the most.
[Original]
The fifth Chennai Photowalk – a roundup
The fifth Chennai Photowalk – on the 16th of March – was one of the shortest routes we covered. But it was the biggest groups I’ve had since this little project started. I counted 27 walkers at one stage, excluding me. Brilliant stuff.
We started from Egmore station, a little later than originally planned. But that’s okay – while we waited for the late comers to arrive, I went around shooting the station from a few different angles – mainly from low, and straight on.
Egmore station, as I’ve mentioned before, was originally built as the Madras terminal of the South India Railway company, headquartered in Trichy. From there to being the second station in Chennai, the station’s seen lots of activity. And lots of people. Including a bunch of crazy people ready to sacrifice a lazy Sunday snooze.
So anyway, from Egmore station, down to Albert theatre and Police Commissioner’s road and thence to Pantheon road.
The Pantheon – otherwise known as the Art Gallery, is a classic Indo Saracenic building, constructed in the 1870s – gives the road its name. This whole complex houses the Government Museum, the Connemara Public Library, the Museum theatre and a fascinating, fascinating bronze gallery. Chola bronzes. What more could one ask for?
How about some coffee?
The second coming – a poetry+coffee event
Second coming is the second open-mic poetry reading session in Chennai. Second coming is also on Good Friday, Jesus’ second innings. So, on this day (which incidentally is the World Poetry day), we hope you’ll come with two poems. One – yours. And one – a translation. You see, we (that’s Sharanya, Meena and I) spent a lot of time on the pun and would be a little sad if you aren’t there to appreciate the pun.
So, for the second time, I invite you to come to the second poetry session in Chennai – Second Coming.
Realisation
I’ve discovered the reason why Bangalore exists. It’s doing the Madras model/Madras thing, and doing it in the 20th century. Everything Madras was, Bangalore is.
Radiant Gym
So, I work for an advertising agency. Which, among other things, does ads and posters for a gym. One poster I worked on, ironically, is about running/exercising to lose weight. The poster’s below.
The idea, as most ideas do, happened in a flash of lightning and a roll of thunder. The gates of the sky opened up and beautiful angels in revealing clothes gently floated down to earth and handed me the idea, gift-wrapped and flower-strewn. And then I spent two hours worrying that the idea was so simple, so obvious, SOMEONE MUST HAVE DONE IT ALREADY. Turns out, no one did. At least, I haven’t seen any ads or posters of TV commercials with this idea. So, YAY for me. And for the art-director who worked on it. And in true Oscar style, I’d like to thank my creative director, my agency, my family, my second-cousin-twice-removed, my imaginary friend’s imaginary dog. And all.
About
Chandrachoodan Gopalakrishnan is a copywriter, photographer and goofball from Chennai. He is also an archaeologist, historian and a city lover. He is currently a documentary film-maker and desk-monkey for a film production house.
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