KOTHANDARAMAN aka Kondu.
The 15 year old handsome and chubby-faced Grandson of Mr. Thiagarajan is nicknamed in Boston as Boston Kamal as he looked every inch the Super Star Kamal Haasan and imitated his dialogues to his Tamilian School Friends to perfection.He mailed a request to Kamal to grant him an interview when in Madras.The boy’s request was readily granted.On the day he arrived in Chennai and got settled in New Woodlands and after watching a few overs of the  Boxing Day Test Match at Melbourne,he dialled Kamal’s number who asked him to come over to his house at 10 a.m on the 26th of December.The famous saying in English is “Columbus discovered America.”But it is apt to say that “Kondu discovered Kamal and Kollywood.”
During the exchange, Kamal was simply floored by Kondu’s knowledge of Tamil Films, more particularly he was impressed by the dialogues he gave in his blockbusters. A song that Kondu sang at the request of the Star was so grand, nice and utterly sincere to the original,that Kamal phoned up to somebody asking the person to rush to his house.Could you guess who it was?It was Kovai Sarala.The song was repeated by Kondu at Kamal’s plea.Kondu sang,”Marugo Marugo Marugayi Jorugo Jorugo Jorugayi”When the famous and comic line in the lyric,”Vadi En Kappakizhangu” was sung by Kondu,both Kamal and Kovai Sarala laughed and laughed and laughed in merriment.
Kanal granted Kondeu the request that he saw all the famous studios in the city with a proper escort. Kamal also assured Kondu that he would be his guest at Boston when he next visited States.
Kondu accompanied his father in the evenings to all the leading vegetarian outlets to satisfy his palates.He gave first mark to Pattappas delicacies.
He took the flight to Boston fully enjoying his 5 day stay in Madras.The icing on the cake was when the Boxing Day Test was won by Virat on the final day of his stay at Madras Nalla Madras.

CONCLUSION.
The above family members of Madras-origin have different tastes and temperaments.They went about their way to satisfy their cultural instincts without any objection from each other.They are well-groomed and well-knit.The in-born Culture of Madras has united them.They have set an example to all of us. –Samyuktha 

Dr. RAMKUMAR SRINIVASAN.
Ramkumar did M.A in History at Loyola College, Chennai.With a Gold Medal on hand, he proceeded to Boston and took a Doctoratein History and served as History Professor there.
He is a regular contributor on historical matters to The New York Times.
He visited Chennai this XMas Season with parents, wife and son andspent 5 days visitingMemorials, Samadhis and seen Statues on the Marina, taking Notes.
Additionally, he satisfied his rich palates with yummy delicacies served in Many Vegetarian Hotels accompanied by his ever hungry son.
The places he visited, during his stay, of historical importance are many.Here is a list:Aringar ANNA Memorial.MGR Memorial.AMMA Memorial and Kalaignar Memorial, all situated on the Marina Beach.He took notes on the Statues he saw on the Marina promenade. The list is below.Triumph of Labour Statue,Avvaiyar,Thiruvalluvar,Kambar,Bharathiar and Bharathidasan,G.U.Pope,Veeramamunivar,Kannagi,Vivekananda,Kamaraj,Annie Besant,Periar,Gandhi and Bose.
He also got into the Fort St. George.He took photographs of High Court with the Old Light House,Madras University Buildings, Madras Central and Egmore Stations.He regretted there is no Moore Market today.
What gave him immense pleasure was when he visited the oldest and first Railway Station in Royapuram.He went to the outskirts of Madras one afternoon to take photographs of Rajiv Gandhi Memorial at Sriperumpudur.
What gave him additional pleasure was the many mouthwatering South Indian Vegetarian Delicacies he tasted at Pattappas, Murugan Iddli, A2B, Sangeetha.Saravana Bhavan, Ratna and Grand Sweets.
His  5-day stay in Madras was fruitful and will be remembered for a long, long time. –Samyuktha

Smt. SUGANTHA KUNDALAMBAL aka SUGANDHI.  
Sugandhi, the cute, slim and well-endowed Daughter-in-law was an accomplished Bharatanatyam Dancer in Madras before she took the hand of Dr. Ramkumar and migrated to  Boston. She is an M.A in English Literature having passed out of the Presidency College.She is running a Dance School in Boston.Utilising her 5-day stay in December season, she visited every Sabha where a Dance Programme was held.Since she belonged to the Rukmini Arundale Kalakshetra,she is deeply imbued with the pristine and pure variety of Bharatnatyam.She being a Girl of Tanjorean vintage, she got her first lessons in dancing from Ponnaiah Pillai School of Dancing.
She had given programmes in Music Academy, Indian Fine Arts, Narada Gana Sabha, Mylapore Fine Arts, in addition to Kala Kshetra.
Her role as Sita in the Dance Programme on Ramayana got a glorious tribute from the famous critic, Subbudu.Mrs. Nandhini Ramani, the Dance Critic, who presided over one of her programmes,said that she was a replica of the great Rukmini Arundale.Rich tribute indeed.
She is harping ceaselessly to her Parents-in-law that the family should make a retreat to Chennai, before Trump gave them a galtha.
Chennai in her opinion is the Citadel of Classical Carnatic Music and Classical Bharatnatyam and her presence in Madras for the remaining part of her life is a must so that she could repay in good measure, what she received.
Let me wish SUGANDHI all the best to realize her objective.

–Samyuktha

MANGALAMBAL of KUMBAKONAM.
The wife of T. Srinivadsan, Mangalambal, Mangalam for short,was brought up by her devout and conservative parentsin a different genre.She is an inveterate Temple-goer.Madras, now Chennai, is an Abode for many a Deity.Particularly in the sacred month of Margazhi,worshiping of Gods in  and around a Madrasi Residenceis an annual practice strictly followed by the locals.

On the first day of her arrival, taking leave of her husband and children,engaging a Fast Track Taxi for the whole day, Mangalam set about visiting the Temples in Mylapore.
Lord Kapali and HIS Consort, Karpagambal, gave her the first Darshan,She stayed inside the Temple Praharam chanting Thiruvembavai.Dropping a Two Hundred Rupee Note into the Undial,Mangalam made the exit and entered the famous Book Stall nearby,GIRI TRADING, and purchased a few religious Books and alsoa Pambu  Panchangam for the incoming VIKARI.
She made a short halt at the following Temples in the locality.Each presiding Deity got the benefit of Rs. Ten from her purse.Valeeswarar, Karaneeswarar, Malleswarar, Valleeswarar,Theerthyapaleeswarar.The Ladies she worshiped are Kolavizhi, Mundakakanni and Maragatham.After taking Lunch and rest for a couple of hours, she startedtrekking again and visited the remaining Temples in and around.Anjaneyar and Apparswamy near Valluvar Silai,Navasakthi Vinayagar in Luz Junction,Anjaneyar Koil in Alwarpet,Anjaneyar Koil near P.S. Senior School and lastlythe two temples in T. Nagar, namely Agasthiyar Koil and Siva Vishnu Koil.Each Deity got a Ten Rupee Note.
The First Day was well spent and she went to sleep.
The next day was very rigorous and busy.First she went to Thiruvallikkeni and worshipedSri Parthasarathy. She recited the whole of Thiruppavaisitting inside the Praharam.Andal might have been immensely pleased.She placed a Two Hundred Rupee Note into the Undial.Skipping her Lunch, she went straight to hiruvetriyur.She was simply moved at the sight of Thyagarajar and Vadivudai Amman. Being a PADAL PETRA STHALAM, she felt bad to leave the place.Placing a Five Hundred Rupee Note into the Undial, she made a reluctant retreat to Woodlands Hotel.
The Third and Fourth Day got spent by visiting all the 20 Temples in Nanganallur,the pride of place given to the tall Anjaneyarwho got a Kanikkai of Rs. Five Hundred and the others a miserly Ten Rupee Note.
The last and Final Day was spent wholly on top of the Sabari Malai Templeat M.R.C Nagar.Mangalam being of age 77 had visited Sabari Malai in Kerala10 times.This year was spent in the HOLY Company of Lord Ayyappan of Madras.Sastha of Madras got a Kanikkai of a Two Thousand Rupee Note.Mangalam reverentially placed the Note into the Undial. Straight from the Temple, she motored down to Meenambakkam Airport 
where the other Four were waiting breathless to receive her.
The Fast Track Driver got a bakshish of a Hundred Rupee Note.

–Samyuktha

THYAGARAJAN SRINIVASAN OF THIRUVAIYARU.
Born and brought up in the iconic Thyagaraja Kshetram, Thiruvaiyru,Thyagarajan started learning his first lessons in Carnatic Music from his mother.He was a student of the legendary Tutor, Sangeetha Bhooshanam, Sri O..V. Subramaniam.He gave an half-an-hour programme in All India Radio, Trichy, once in three months in the early Fifties,  when he was doing his Maths (Hons) in St. Joseph’s College, Trichy.
Even when he was working in Delhi Secretariat as a high flown officer,he never failed to make his annual visit to Chennai to listen to his favourite Musicians like Ariakkudi, Maharajapuram, Semmangudi, Chembai, GNB, Madurai Mani, MSS, DKP and MLV.This year, he has visited almost all the Sabhas in and aroundNew Woodlands Hotel, Mylapore.
The Music Academy gets the pride of place in his everyday programme sheet.From morning till evening, he is at the Academy.He also visits, when a favourite sings, in Narada Gana Sabha,Mylapore Fine Arts, Satyam Complex, Tamil Isai Sangam, George Town andIndian Fine Arts, T. Nagar.
This year he expressed his opinion that the younger set of Musiciansis ,uniformly excelling in comparison with the known elders.In particular, he mentioned that Ranjani and Gayathri, Ananya and a few youngstershave elicited uniform admiration from the critics.
One particular comment of his is worth mentioning.He opined that a new Music Combine by name MADRASANA will be in the news and much talked about in future seasons.It conducted a few Concerts in Sathyam Cinemas and Thiagarajan is totally moved by the character, ambience and management of this new Music Chapter in Chennai this season.
When he left Delhi for Chennai to register his annual attendance in the Music Academy, he had a lurking anxiety and premonition whether the season will go on without facing any problem -the reason  being seven Musicians got banned by the Academy this year including last year’s Sangitha Kalanidhi Awardee due to their getting into the accusatory #MeToo Circle.
Luckily nothing untoward or unbecoming has taken place,according to Thiagarajan.He is taking the evening flight to Delhion Sunday 30th fully satisfied and cleansed by the Beauty and Purity of Carnatic Music, ,for which Chennai is justly famous all over the world.
When taking Conjeepuram Iddli at Pattappas with my Grandpa,Thiagarajan mentioned in passing that this year’s Music Season with family in Chennai has made a big hole in his pocket,to the tune of Rs, Ten Lakhs and his share is one Fifth.

–Samyuktha

INTRODUCTION
A classmate and close friend of my Grandpa arrived in Madras, now Chennai, on a 5 day Holiday Visit last week from Boston, USA, where he is staying with his family of 5 Members, each having different tastes and interests in life.
My Grandpa’s friend, a Tanjorean, is interested in Carnatic Music and attended the December Music Festival,staying in New Woodlands Hotel, close to the Music Academy.
His wife, also a Tanjorean, is interested only in visiting Temples in and around Chennai.
His son, a History Professor in a Boston College, is interested only in visiting monuments and  memorials of historical importance which are plenty around Chennai.He is also known for his rich taste in South Indian cuisines.During his stay, he has visited famous Vegetarian Hotel in Chennai to satisfy his rich palates, accompanied by his son.The comely and winsome Daughter-in-law was a Bharatnatyam Dancer in Chennai, before she entered the family as their Bahu. She is interested only in visiting Dance Programmes being conducted by various Sabhas this season.The last in the list, 15 year old Grandson of my Grandpa’s friend,  is a Fan of all famous Heroes and Heroines of Kollywood, more particularly of Kamal Haasan, who is his hot favourite.In five short but interesting anecdotes, I am going to write about the exploits of the Fivesome during their five day stay in Chennai during December season.

–S Samyuktha

BHARATNATYAM is a classical Indian dance originated from South Indian state , Tamil Nadu . The name Bharatanatyam is a simple derivation from the four most important aspects of dance. These are: Bha from Bhava meaning emotion, Ra from Raaga meaning music or melody, Ta from Taala meaning rhythm and Natyam meaning dance. Thus Bharatanatyam is the dance that is all about music, rhythm and expressional dance or Abhinaya and strictly adheres to the Natyashastra . This dance form is completely dynamic , powerful , elite and unique. Being one of the oldest classical dance heritage of India it is regarded as mother of many other Indian classical dance forms. Many women of South India especially from city’s like Madras/Chennai pursue this dance form and are inspired by its simplicity and graceful dance movements . It’s known for its dance movements , style , music and makeup.The style of dressing of a Bharatanatyam dancer is more or less similar to that of a Tamil Hindu bride. The sari worn in a special manner is well complimented with traditional jewellery that include the ones that adorn her head, nose, ear and neck and face make-up specially highlighting her eyes so that audience can view her expressions.The music associated with Bharatanatyam is in South India’s Carnatic style and instruments played include the flute, a long pipe horn called nagaswaram, a drum called mridangam and veena. The dancer communicates a story, spiritual themes, message or feelings through his or her expressions .Today this ancient classical dance form also includes non-religious and fusion based themes. This dance form originated from Tamil Nadu is known and learnt by many people in abroad . Bharatnatyam isn’t just a dance form its a feeling . 

By: Riya Haran

Fashion and lifestyle in Chennai has reached it’s heights.Chennai has it all from branded to local.The city developed from Madras to Chennai ever since vadas have been replaced with burgers.

Sowcarpet,TNagar and Pondy bazaar are some of the most famous and affordable shopping places.We can find exclusive branded clothes at the big Chennai malls.

The madrasis have really got style and passion.The madras lifestyle has developed over the ages.

Chennai is a city of hope and new beginnings. The job opportunities in Chennai only keep multiplying.

Not to mention that the indian culture is being replaced by the western culture one day at a time. The metro is another great civilisation in Chennai . However the comforting nature of the people of Chennai is still the same. Madras was a place known for its affordable rate of survival but the expensive Chennai isn’t that easy. However the modern lifestyle of Chennai is a total treat. The simple Madrasi in us starting fading away ever since silk has been replaced with lace. 

Chennai is known for its beautiful culture and traditions and the essence still remains …….it is like a dream come true 

~Michelle 

“ CHENNAI IS A HOME TO SOME AND A DREAM TO MANY “

Ice-cream rolls or handcrafted ice-creams are a new trend which is gaining a lot of popularity. It’s a feast at the end of the day to see it being made and then devour it. Ice-cream rolls gives people a chance to mix their favorite ingredients up until the last minute. Ingredients like dry fruits, chocolates, Oreos, sweet sauces etc.
One of the famous places in Chennai which serves amazing ice-cream rolls is Rollover located in Anna Nagar. They’ve got plenty of mouth watering choices to choose from.
The creamy milk of the customer’s choice is poured on a cold pan and is crafted with ingredients of the same. These ice creams look and infact taste so yummy that it’s very difficult to stop with just one.

This chocolate ice cream roll was served on a rectangular plate which consisted of four rolls along with a chocolate brownie and a chocolate syrup. The nuts on the rolls added on to the yummy chocolate rolls. This is one of the signature dishes in the menu.

The second was a vanilla fruit ice cream roll served on a waffle with strawberry crush on it.

This one is the best for people who like chocolate but are not chocolate lovers. Basically it has a perfect taste and blend of chocolate which doesn’t make it too chocolatey and the sprinkles on top just add on to the flavour making it a perfect ice cream. Personally, this is my favourite one.

Rollover is definitely a must visit for every ice cream lover. Is there a better place than this to have ice cream rolls at? I don’t think so. I’d rate this place 4.4/5.
If you have visited this place earlier, do drop your reviews and if you’re planning to visit it sooner or later, don’t forget to try the new paan flavour.

-Muskaan Shah

MADRAS IS AN ART. IF STRANGERS WERE TO LOOK AT THE PICTURE OF MADRAS THAT CONTAINED ART WORK AND THE CITY TODAY HE WOULD BE PETRIFIED TO NOTE THE DIFFERENCE. CURRENT CITY CHENNAI IS RUINED BY THE NAME OF RENOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT, CORRUPTION AND WITH FULL OF POLLUTION. 

MADRAS STOOD FOR TAMIL SPEAKING PEOPLE DRINKING COFFEE, EATING SAMBAR VADAI. THE  STATUES WE SEE TODAY IN MANY AREAS IS THE MASTERY OF THE CRAFTSMEN. THERE ARE FEW INTERESTING “LANDMARKS” LIKE HIGH COURT, RIPON BUILDING, CHENNAI CENTRAL RAILWAY STATION, LIC BUILDING ETC. SO THESE DAYS NO ONE TALKS ABOUT NEW BUILDINGS FOR EXAMPLE TAKE OUR OWN MOP COLLEGE DO PEOPLE SPEAK ABOUT IT?   

 I FEEL THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN EDUCATION SYSTEM WHEN THE WORD MADRAS CHANGED TO CHENNAI. IN THOSE DAYS PEOPLE TRIED SO HARD TO GET INTO FAMOUS COLLEGES LIKE IIT MADRAS,ANNA UNIVERSTY ETC.NOW THERE ARE MORE TEACHERS THAN STUDENTS IN ENGINEERING COLLEGES.COMING TO CULTURE OUR ANCESTORS USUALLY CELEBRATED FESTIVALS LIKE BAKRID, PONGAL, CHIRTMAS BY GATHERING WITH THEIR FAMILY.BUT THESE DAYS CELEBRATION IS DONE THROUGH WHATSAPP. HOW LIFE HAS CHANGED HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT?                                       

       

    – S SAMYUKTHA