Madras Nalla Madras!

Madras: A Journey Down Memory Lane

Ah, Madras! The city where history whispers through the streets and nostalgia drips from every memory. Back in the day, Chennai was called Madras, and those were the days, my friend. Let’s take a spin down memory lane, starting with a taste of the simple pleasures that defined our lives.

Cinema Royale: The most expensive ticket at the theatre—a whopping Rs 2.90. No online booking, no fuss, just pure excitement. And if the dreaded “House Full” sign was up, a polite word with the manager might just get you in. Mount Road had the Sapphire theatre complex which housed Blue Diamond Theatre where continuous shows ran like clockwork. As college students, we mastered the art of joining halfway through a movie and staying for the next show to catch the first half. Efficiency at its finest. each locality had so many cinema theatres. Most of them now have now gone bust and become shopping malls.

Doordarshan Days: There was only one TV channel, Doordarshan, and many homes didn’t even own a TV. So what did we do? We made TV watching a community event, especially on weekends when movies were screened. All programs, including “Vayalum Vaazhvum” and Doordarshan’s iconic dramas, were watched by the entire family. And let’s not forget “Oliyum Oliyum”—Friday night’s half-hour of Tamil film songs was nothing short of bliss.

Easwari Lending Library: Book lovers, unite! The original Easwari Lending Library on Lloyd’s Road was heaven on earth for anyone who lived to read. Madras might have been evolving, but for us, this library was the constant. A place where time stood still, and stories came to life. The fragrance of books, the row after row of books stacked high with a stool to climb and search for your favourite authors. The Owner Pazhani, a simpleton sat at the cash counter billing all the books manually in a huge book.

The Cars of Yesteryears: Remember when Ambassador cars ruled the roads? Fiats were a close second, and the Herald was slowly making its exit in the ’80s. Petrol was a mere Rs 5 per litre, but we still cribbed about the skyrocketing prices! Most of us relied on the good ol’ PTC buses (Pallavan Transport Corporation) for our daily commute. AC cars were a rare luxury, and if you were really fancy, your Ambassador had a little battery-operated fan inside. That was our version of air-conditioning, folks!

Mount Road Buharis: After a night show at Devi Theater, the ultimate reward was a bun butter jam and a steaming glass of masala paal at Buharis. The fun wasn’t just in the food but in the post-movie gossip that accompanied it. These late-night escapades were as legendary as the films themselves. Buharis exists as swanky hotels in several localities now, but Mount Road Buharis was iconic.

Life Before the Internet: Believe it or not, we managed to stay busy without the internet. Mobile phones didn’t invade our lives until the late ’80s and ’90s. PCOs were everywhere, and people stood in queues to make their calls. It was a simpler time, but far from boring. E mail was non-existent and we actually wrote letters to our loved ones in blue inland letters or post cards. Sabir Bhatia’s Hot Mail was a great revolution and I remember the excitement of walking into a crowded ‘Internet Parlour’ (Yes! That’s what these browsing centres were called) and waiting for your turn to send an email.

Chinthamani Super Market: The OG superstore before malls made their advent. Need fresh veggies? Check. Craving a quick chaat? Double check. And let’s not forget the Aavin kiosk where flavored milk made its grand debut in glass bottles. Ah, the joy of sipping chilled badam milk! And if you were a youngster with a flair for fun, Milan was the place to be. It wasn’t just a snack joint; it was the official hangout spot, the WhatsApp group of the ’80s and ’90s.

Marina Beach Rides: No childhood in Madras was complete without a pony or camel ride on Marina Beach. It wasn’t just a ride; it was a statement. The kind that said, “I’m conquering this beach, one trot at a time.” There were not that many makeshift eating kiosks like now. Just the Sundal vendor with his tasty thenga, manga pattani sundal in stainless steel ‘thookus’.

Moore Market: The epicenter of all things you didn’t need but definitely wanted. Whether you were hunting for old, rare books, quirky trinkets, or that elusive piece of electronics, Moore Market had it all. The best part? The building was circular. You could literally go round and round until you were dizzy from all the choices. And the bargaining? An Olympic sport. After all that haggling, the 15A bus ride back home was practically a victory lap.

Mazhalai Memories: Kids back then didn’t need gadgets to entertain themselves. They ran around the house, played noisy games like Catching Game, Hide and Seek, Rock or Sand, Statue, Paandi…. and only sat still when they had homework to do or sitting games like 5 stones, Rummy, Monopoly and Scrabble. Kids never ever declared, “I am bored” And even if they did, parents didn’t drop everything to entertain them. Pasta and Noodles in lunch boxes was practically unheard of. It was mostly rice. Or Idly, Dosai or rarely Rotis.

Woodlands Drive-In: Cool doesn’t even begin to cover it. Hanging out at Woodlands Drive-In, eating Sambar vadai in the comfort of your car, with a tray hooked to your window—it was the Madras version of an American diner, but with dosais instead of burgers. Semmozhi Poonga which stands today in its place is also beautiful but …..

Dasaprakash: Special days in Madras called for a trip to Dasaprakash, where a masala dosai and their famous ice creams were the ultimate indulgence. These outings were special occasions, the kind where you’d dress up and pretend it wasn’t just about feasting to your heart’s content. Sundays at the restaurant were always bustling, often packed with North Indian families. Back when Chennai was still Madras, dining out was a rare treat reserved for moments worth celebrating.

Ajnabi in Fountain Plaza: Long before Xpress Avenue or Phoenix Mall took over, Fountain Plaza and Alsa Mall were the cool places to shop. Few hours of shopping followed with tasty Paav Bhaji at Ajnabis, made our day. Ajnabi still exists. So also the Handloom road side shopping on Pantheon Road, lane.

Fashion Flashbacks: The salwar kameez had just made its entry into South India, unknowingly pushing the half sari—a staple for teenagers in the ’60s and ’70s—towards extinction. Meanwhile, bell bottoms were all the rage in the ’80s. The wider the pant leg, the cooler you were. The two plaits and the single plait was giving way to the pony tail.

Madras might have evolved into Chennai, but these memories? They’re priceless. Here’s to the Madras that was—full of quirks, charm, and memories that make us smile even today.

Happy Madras Day! Got any more memories of old Madras? Share them, because nostalgia is best served with a side of humor and a dash of love.