Latest news with #MadeofChennai
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Heritage walk at Chennai port highlights its role in trade, architecture and the making of the city
For centuries, the sea was Chennai's front gate. Long before airports and expressways, the city's first encounters were shaped along this coast. In many ways, modern Chennai began here: with ships unloading not just cargo, but cultures, communities, and the city's very identity. It is not every day that the gates of Chennai Port open to visitors, but on a cloudy August dawn, buzzing with anticipation, a group of us step past the high-security entrance as part of The Hindu's Made of Chennai heritage walk led by Thirupurasundari Sevvel, architect and founder of Nam Veedu Nam Oor Nam Kadhai. Inside, the port reveals itself not just as a bustling trade hub, but as a site layered with colonial history, wartime scars, and evolving architecture. We begin at the Chennai Port Trust Centenary Building, where officials take us through the history of the port. 'Chennai Port and Chennai city are integrated with each other. The city came into being in 1639, while the port was officially built only in 1881. For almost 240 years, there was no protected harbour — ships anchored offshore and passengers were ferried through the surf,' said Sunil Paliwal, the Chairman of the Port Trust. The story goes back to 1770, when Warren Hastings first suggested a harbour in Madras. The idea lay dormant until 1836, when the Madras Chamber of Commerce began lobbying for one. Work started on a pier in 1859, but it collapsed within years due to the rough sea. In 1875, when the Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone, the port's modern history began. The foundation stone can be spotted at the Centenary Building even today. Completed in 1880 and opened in 1881, Chennai Port became India's third-oldest major port, after Kolkata and Mumbai — a horseshoe-shaped harbour that finally tamed the Coromandel coast. Our first stop is the Steam House, the oldest surviving structure on the port campus. Built in 1938, this brick-and-stone building still bears its Madras terrace roof, an architectural style that kept interiors cool against the coastal climate. 'Over the years it has served many purposes, from a steam house to an electric substation. Now, we are working to restore and transform it into a museum that showcases the history of the port,' says the chairman. Next, we climb to the Signal Station perched on the North of the port. From here, the panorama is striking — all three docks laid out in sequence, cranes swivelling, cargo stacked high, ships awaiting their turn. This is the nerve centre of the port. Here we learn about how it is the control point where ships are signalled when to enter, which berth to dock at and how pilot boats guide them in. The walk ends at the Royal Madras Yacht Club (RMYC), tucked to the South of the harbour. Founded in 1911, it is among the oldest yacht clubs in India, but its walls carry memories far beyond sailing. During World War I, on the morning of September 22, 1914, the German warship SMS Emden bombarded Madras, targeting oil tanks along the coast. 'Shells and shrapnel fell close to the harbour and the RMYC, and one of the paintings displayed there was damaged,' says Captain Vivek Shanbgag, who runs the RMYC. The painting, with scars of war, is still on display at the club. As the walk winds down, what lingers is the sense that the port is not just a restricted industrial space, but the city's first doorway. 'The main essence of the walk is to understand the amount of effort that goes in,' said Thirupurasundari. 'We are celebrating Madras Day at the place which is really the starting point of everything — the Chennai Port, the beach, and the many aspects that shaped the city.' The Hindu Made of Chennai is presented by Casagrand and powered by SRM. In association with Union Bank of India. Associate Partners: Tata Tea Chakra Gold, Tata Coffee. Walk partners: Port Trust of India and Kamarajar Port Limited. The event is also done in partnership with Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, Greater Chennai Corporation, Greater Chennai Police, Greater Chennai Traffic Police and Namma Marina, Namma Pride. Radio Partners: Big FM, Fever FM and Radio One.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Winners of the Made of Chennai campaign treated to ‘Coolie' movie
A group of contestants who won in the Kollywood quiz organised as part of the Made of Chennai campaign of The Hindu were treated to actor Rajinikanth starrer 'Coolie' on Friday. S. Vasanthi, one of the winners of the contest, said the online film quiz contest organised by The Hindu Made of Chennai campaign was a wonderful opportunity for several loyal readers to participate. The Hindu Made of Chennai is presented by Casagrand and powered by SRM in association with Union Bank of India. Associate Partners: Tata Tea Chakra Gold, Tata Coffee, Hell Energy. Tourism sponsor: UP Tourism. Hydration partner: Parry Foods. The 40-day celebration is also done in partnership with Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, Greater Chennai Corporation, Greater Chennai Police, Greater Chennai Traffic Police and Namma Marina, Namma Pride. Radio Partners: Big FM, Fever FM and Radio On. Activewear partner: Technosport.
The Hindu
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Stories of life, space, and identity at Lalit Kala Academi
Mapping Memories is more than a visual showcase — it is a journey through the inner landscapes of its artists. Currently on at At Lalit Kala Akademi, in collaboration with The Hindu's Made of Chennai, each piece traces connections to spaces that have shaped the maker' identities and experiences. These vivid stories are told in oil, watercolour, acrylic, and sculpture. 'A lot of the artists who have shown their works do not have representation, and for us, it is important that they get their voices heard and that their creative expressions are seen. These are compelling narratives of each person and how they associate with the spaces that have been an integral part of their life,' says Upasana Asrani, one of the curators of Mapping Memories. For artist Balaramana from Koyambedu, his works are inspired by his life as a load worker. He says, 'Before I joined the Government College of Fine Arts in Chennai, I used to work with my father, helping him load and transport goods. I have seen the pain, the strength, and the silent endurance of those men every single day… Those experiences stayed with me deeply. So when I started learning art, I felt a strong urge to turn that part of my life into something meaningful through my work.' His piece, The Moment of Rest, is inspired by a photograph that he took during a photo walk in the local market. 'I saw a worker sitting casually on a garlic sack, sipping tea. There was something peaceful and honest in that scene, and it stayed with me. For me, my works are more than just observation; they are a tribute to the people I come from, to the backbone of our markets, and to the everyday lives that are full of untold stories,' says Balarama. For the past few years, the exhibition has primarily focussed on South India, titled Spotlight on the South, drawing artists with a connection to this part of the country. This year, for the first time, an open call was issued. 'We had almost 250 to 300 entries from all over the world, from which we shortlisted 70 artists for this exhibition,' says Upasana. Artist Punit Kadwane from Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, uses acrylic and layered textures — that resemble fine sand — to create a tactile connection to the earthy essence of Vrindavan and the emotions embedded in our cultural memory. Titled Swaranbhuti, Sakhyam, and Companions, in one Krishna appears with his calf companion, in another, he is seen playing the bansuri — each painting evokes a moment where memory, devotion, and imagination intersect. 'The textures and symbolic elements serve as landmarks on a spiritual map, inviting viewers to navigate through layers of myth, emotion, and timeless love. My work seeks to reawaken collective memories, not through literal representation, but by blending materiality, symbolism, and sentiment into immersive, contemplative spaces,' says Kadwane. Artist and professor SAV Elanchezian's work on watercolour titled Sun commemorates the sun for elevating the unparalleled beauty of Pallava pillars. 'Though the pillars are architectural elements, the Sun elevates them as a sculpture as well. The sun demonstrates the subtle principle of art and architectural nuances and brilliantly casts the conceptual symbolism on the basis of aesthetics,' explains Elanchezian. Based out of Singapore, painter, sculptor, P Gnana's bronze sculpture titled Fierce Protector, shows a child on her mother's lap. He uses the lost-wax technique, an ancient Chola-period method that uses a wax mould to create one-of-a-kind pieces. (Once the wax is melted, the mould is destroyed.) The sculpture shows the mother and child with closed eyes, which he explains, 'the no eye contact is for the viewers to interpret the emotions conveyed, thus becoming active participants in the creative process'. Chennai-based artist Rajasekar A is showcasing his resin sculpture titled Mother, inspired by Raja Ravi Varma's Madri. 'I dreamt of creating a sculpture in its spirit — a work that could hold the same quiet majesty. But then a thought stirred within me: Varma was a royal; the women he saw and painted were draped in the elegance of palaces. If I were to recreate such beauty, who would my women be?' He adds, 'The answer rose before me, not queens of gilded courts, but the women who have stood before me all my life: my mother, my sister, my wife… women whose crowns are unseen. In my mind's eye, they did not stand holding silver trays brimming with fruit; instead, they stood carrying something far heavier — the home itself.' Mapping Memories by Madras Art Weekend is done in collaboration with The Hindu Made of Chennai, and is currently on at the Lalit Kala Akademi till August 14, from 11am to 7pm.
The Hindu
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
An exhibition that provides a glimpse into the glorious past of the city, its rich culture
From a panoramic view of the International Trade fair in Madras photographed in 1968, the Tamil Nadu team performing karagam and gymnastics during a Republic day Parade practice in 1979 to Children playing carrom at Asian Youth Centre night shelter, in 1984, 78 photos are on display as part of The Hindu Made of Chennai Archival Photo Exhibit with the theme 'Thiral-Thiran-Thaakkam', which was launched at The Hindu office on Friday. Carnatic vocalist Aruna Sairam, actor-director Revathy, V. Ashokkumar, Senior Vice President, Casagrand; E. Anand, Vice President, Casagrand; and C. Muthamizhchelvan, Vice Chancellor, SRM, inaugurated the archival photo exhibition in the presence of Nirmala Lakshman, Chairperson, The Hindu Group; Narayan Lakshman, Opinion Editor, The Hindu; and Rohit Ramesh, Director, The Hindu Group. Beginning with the rendition of a Vallalar song in Tamil, Ms. Sairam later said: 'Chennai is not just where we live, it is where we belong. A city where ancient and modern life walk side by side.' 'The startups and sabhas; coffee and computer courses; temples and theatres, everything finds a place here,' she said. 'The Hindu building itself is a landmark in the city. And what better way to tell the story of a moment than when it is captured in a photograph? Nowadays, it is all in the mobile phones that we rarely look back. But the black and white printed form of a moment, it takes you years back to that particular moment,' said Ms. Revathy. Chennai comes together for many reasons, and one of them is celebration. The Hindu's Archival Photo Exhibit reflects what celebration looked like before the digital world took over, said historian and exhibit's curator Thirupurasundari Sevvel. Calling Chennai the 'intellectual capital,' Dr. Muthamizhchelvan described the city as a hub for quality education. Mr. V. Ashokkumar also shared personal anecdotes of growing up here. The photo exhibit is open to the public until September 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Title partner: Casagrand; Powered by SRM; Associate Partner: Tata Tea Chakra Gold, Tata Coffee; Curation Partner: Nam Veedu, Nam Oor, Nam Kadhai.
The Hindu
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Mapping Memories' exhibition to begin today
This Madras Month, art takes centre stage as Madras Art Weekend, in collaboration with The Hindu's Made of Chennai initiative, unveils Mapping Memories, a compelling group exhibition that celebrates the intricate dance between memory, place, and identity. Opening on August 9 at 4 PM at Lalit Kala Akademi, Egmore, the exhibition brings together works by both emerging and established artists, offering a rare confluence of perspectives, mediums, and stories. Spanning paintings, sculptures, photographs, and installations, Mapping Memories is a layered exploration of how personal recollections and collective histories shape the urban landscapes we call home. 'The artworks on display weave together personal and collective narratives, revealing the complex textures of life. From the nostalgia of forgotten places to the vibrancy of everyday experiences, the artists capture this essence and the memories that define it,' says, Upasana Asrani, Founder of Madras Art Weekend. She has also curated the exhibition, along with Pinky Jain. Chess Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand and Inspector General of Police, Chennai, A. Kayalvizhi will be the chief guests for the exhibit. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the exhibition stands as an important platform for underrepresented artists, amplifying voices that often go unheard in the mainstream art world. In doing so, Mapping Memories also mirrors the mission of Made of Chennai - to chronicle and celebrate the many layers of the city's identity. The exhibition will run until August 14, open daily from 11 AM to 7 PM.
