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Madras Day Special: 25 instances when Tamil cinema best captured the true essence of the city

As Madras celebrates its 380th birthday, we give you a list of song-and-dance sequences, which in addition to celebrating the city and its inhabitants, incites some pertinent thoughts about its evolution and politics
From MGR's Nenjam Undu Nermai Undu to Dhanush's Danga Maari Oodhari, this list is the pride of every Chennaiyite
From MGR's Nenjam Undu Nermai Undu to Dhanush's Danga Maari Oodhari, this list is the pride of every Chennaiyite
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Madrasa Suthi Paaka Poren: In May Madham (1994), a poncho-clad Manorama plays the city’s wackiest tour guide to Vineeth and Sonali.
Madrasa Suthi Paaka Poren: In May Madham (1994), a poncho-clad Manorama plays the city’s wackiest tour guide to Vineeth and Sonali.
The song’s celebration of Chennai doesn’t end with the lyrics but also extends into the visuals, providing gorgeous views of Napier bridge, Ripon building, Marina beach and Anna Salai.
The song’s celebration of Chennai doesn’t end with the lyrics but also extends into the visuals, providing gorgeous views of Napier bridge, Ripon building, Marina beach and Anna Salai.
Madras Nalla Madras: Filmed on the lanes of Madras, this song from KB's Anubavi Raja Anubavi (1967) has a villager, trying to keep pace with the fast-paced city and its speeding traffic.
Madras Nalla Madras: Filmed on the lanes of Madras, this song from KB's Anubavi Raja Anubavi (1967) has a villager, trying to keep pace with the fast-paced city and its speeding traffic.
One of the earliest songs about Madras, it beautifully captures the ironies of city life. While it doesn’t glorify Madras, Kannadasan’s lyrics point out the conundrums that everyone can relate to.
One of the earliest songs about Madras, it beautifully captures the ironies of city life. While it doesn’t glorify Madras, Kannadasan’s lyrics point out the conundrums that everyone can relate to.
Enga Ooru Madrasu: One of the city’s modern anthems from Pa Ranjith’s Madras (2014), the song depicts the dilapidated housing board societies in Vyasarpadi to the graffiti art in George Town.
Enga Ooru Madrasu: One of the city’s modern anthems from Pa Ranjith’s Madras (2014), the song depicts the dilapidated housing board societies in Vyasarpadi to the graffiti art in George Town.
With references to stage shows, gaana patu, football and politics, the robust Chennai spirit in the song adds to Santhosh Narayanan’s peppy beats.
With references to stage shows, gaana patu, football and politics, the robust Chennai spirit in the song adds to Santhosh Narayanan’s peppy beats.
Vanakam Vaazha Veikum Chennai: The song, a part of the 2012 film Marina nails expresses the love/hate relationship that Chennaites have with the city.
Vanakam Vaazha Veikum Chennai: The song, a part of the 2012 film Marina nails expresses the love/hate relationship that Chennaites have with the city.
Girish G’s music brings late Na.Muthukumar’s lyrics to life as this Chennai anthem beautifully describes the journey of migrants in the city - from being an outsider to making Chennai their home.
Girish G’s music brings late Na.Muthukumar’s lyrics to life as this Chennai anthem beautifully describes the journey of migrants in the city - from being an outsider to making Chennai their home.
Composed for Vanakam Chennai, Chennai city Gangsta has become the pride of every young Chennaite. Composed by Anirudh, and written by Hip Hop Aadhi, it's a tribute to the youngster’s life in the city.
Composed for Vanakam Chennai, Chennai city Gangsta has become the pride of every young Chennaite. Composed by Anirudh, and written by Hip Hop Aadhi, it's a tribute to the youngster’s life in the city.
This is also the song that Chennaites have ready in hand as an answer to all those outsiders, who crib about life in Chennai.
This is also the song that Chennaites have ready in hand as an answer to all those outsiders, who crib about life in Chennai.
A brilliant Carnatic piece sung by classical singer T.M.Krishna, Kaber Vasuki’s Porambokku song question decisions that led to the infamous Chennai floods.
A brilliant Carnatic piece sung by classical singer T.M.Krishna, Kaber Vasuki’s Porambokku song question decisions that led to the infamous Chennai floods.
A political commentary on the city’s growth, the Porambokku song breaks a very important musical shackle – using Carnatic music for contemporary issues, which is how music was used in ancient times.
A political commentary on the city’s growth, the Porambokku song breaks a very important musical shackle – using Carnatic music for contemporary issues, which is how music was used in ancient times.
In Nenjam Undu Nermai Undu from En Annan, MGR rides a white horse along the streets of 70s-Chennai. The song includes glimpses of Ripon building, the Thomas Munro statue and, Anna statue on Mount Road
In Nenjam Undu Nermai Undu from En Annan, MGR rides a white horse along the streets of 70s-Chennai. The song includes glimpses of Ripon building, the Thomas Munro statue and, Anna statue on Mount Road
One of Chennai’s strikingly tall structures - The Anna Nagar tower park was enbodied on film in Galata Kalyanam (1968), starring Jayalalithaa, Sivaji Ganesan, Nagesh, Cho Ramaswamy and Manorama.
One of Chennai’s strikingly tall structures - The Anna Nagar tower park was enbodied on film in Galata Kalyanam (1968), starring Jayalalithaa, Sivaji Ganesan, Nagesh, Cho Ramaswamy and Manorama.
The famous MS Viswanathan composition Engal Kalyanam from Gallata Kalyanam depicts courtship at the Anna Nagar Tower Park – a practice that has been observed in real life too.
The famous MS Viswanathan composition Engal Kalyanam from Gallata Kalyanam depicts courtship at the Anna Nagar Tower Park – a practice that has been observed in real life too.
Chennai’s unique slang is paired with rap in PettaiRap from Shankar’s Kadhalan (1994). “Ammapettai Ayyampettai Teynaampettai Thengai Mattai,” Vadivelu sings, covering the important neighbourhoods.
Chennai’s unique slang is paired with rap in PettaiRap from Shankar’s Kadhalan (1994). “Ammapettai Ayyampettai Teynaampettai Thengai Mattai,” Vadivelu sings, covering the important neighbourhoods.
Dancing at the slums of Fort George against backdrops of Rajini graffiti and railway stations, Danga Maari from Anegan sees Dhanush elucidate the unique relationship between Gana and the city.
Dancing at the slums of Fort George against backdrops of Rajini graffiti and railway stations, Danga Maari from Anegan sees Dhanush elucidate the unique relationship between Gana and the city.
The Shankar-style song, Mersalayiten, from I, despite being visually flamboyant, provides a birds eye view of Vannarapettai or Washermanpet.
The Shankar-style song, Mersalayiten, from I, despite being visually flamboyant, provides a birds eye view of Vannarapettai or Washermanpet.
The brilliantly-shot Sel Sel from Manikandan's Kaaka Muttai defines the impoverished world of the Saidapet slums, and life by the Cooum river.
The brilliantly-shot Sel Sel from Manikandan's Kaaka Muttai defines the impoverished world of the Saidapet slums, and life by the Cooum river.
Vaama doraiyamma from director Vijay's Madrasapattinam gives a poignant account of Old Madras in the pre-independence era.
Vaama doraiyamma from director Vijay's Madrasapattinam gives a poignant account of Old Madras in the pre-independence era.
Rajini and Radhika cover almost the entire stretch of Mount Road in Ivan Peru Ranga from Ranga (1982). The couple glide past the LIC building, Gemini flyover, and Chennai High Court in the song.
Rajini and Radhika cover almost the entire stretch of Mount Road in Ivan Peru Ranga from Ranga (1982). The couple glide past the LIC building, Gemini flyover, and Chennai High Court in the song.
CV Sridhar’s Manidhan Enbavan from Sumaithaangi (1962) sees Gemini Ganesan walk through the entire stretch of Marina beach, singing about the wonders of life.
CV Sridhar’s Manidhan Enbavan from Sumaithaangi (1962) sees Gemini Ganesan walk through the entire stretch of Marina beach, singing about the wonders of life.
Aval Appadi Onnum Azhagillai from Vasantha Balan's Angadi Theru (2010) paints a poignant picture of the often-forgotten facet of the lucrative Ranganathan street in T Nagar.
Aval Appadi Onnum Azhagillai from Vasantha Balan's Angadi Theru (2010) paints a poignant picture of the often-forgotten facet of the lucrative Ranganathan street in T Nagar.
In Ennaku Oru Girlfriend from Boys (2003), Shankar encapsulates the nostalgic elements of 90s-Chennai into a 5-minute song: shopping malls, internet kiosks, pubs,disco hopping & digital movie screens.
In Ennaku Oru Girlfriend from Boys (2003), Shankar encapsulates the nostalgic elements of 90s-Chennai into a 5-minute song: shopping malls, internet kiosks, pubs,disco hopping & digital movie screens.
In Gautham Menon’s Vaaranam Aayiram (2008), the song Yethi Yethi provides a well-rounded visual tour of Pilot theatre, Adyar beach and the temples of Mylapore.
In Gautham Menon’s Vaaranam Aayiram (2008), the song Yethi Yethi provides a well-rounded visual tour of Pilot theatre, Adyar beach and the temples of Mylapore.
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