Let’s face it — how many times have you felt the innate pride of being a Chennaiite, and a popular film song about the city’s chutzpah floated to mind? Though there are many songs outside the realm of film that sang praises about the city, it is but natural that contemporary tunes are more rooted than the others, especially when it comes to today’s youngsters.
Be it jamming with your friends as part of a band, tearing up the dance floor on a Saturday night or enjoying a sing-along with the family, songs about Madras add a special flavour to the occasion! On this Madras Day, we take a look at songs from the recent past that have portrayed the culture of the city — in its myriad hues.
In over hundred years of cinema, only a handful of songs have been written and composed by film personalities that speak about the city, mysteriously enough.
As we go back in time, it was the song Madras Nalla Madras from Anubhavi Raja Anubhavi (1967) that first portrayed the lifestyle of Chennai. This comedy flick, directed by K Balachander, starred Nagesh, R Muthuraman and Rajasree.
Another iconic song that channelled Chennai’s spirit was Madrasa Suthi Paaka Poren from director Balu’s May Madham. Who can forget Manorama’s cool look adorning a poncho and denims! Her style is still in vogue and it is probably the only song that showcased Chennai’s important monuments. In the number, we see Manorama in a car taking actors Vineeth and Sonali Kulkarni on a tour around the city.
In the years that followed, directors Mani Ratnam, Selvaraghavan, AR Murugadoss and Pa. Ranjith, to name a few, have showcased the city’s different shades. While Mani Ratnam stuck to showing the sophisticated side of Madras, Selvaraghavan resorted to depicting the dark side of the city. In 2010, director Vijay helmed Madrasapattinam, a period film that shed light on how the city looked when British were still ruling.
Post-2010, directors portrayed Chennai in a realistic light and in most of the films, at least one scene is set at Marina beach. Director Pandiraj’s Marina, which marked Sivakarthikeyan’s debut as a hero, had a song titled Vanakkam Vaazha Vaikkum Chennai, written by late lyricist Na.Muthukumar. The song reiterates the fact that no other city is on par with Chennai.
When we talk about namma ooru, how can we miss out the Whistle Podu theme song of Chennai Super Kings? It has become synonymous with the people living here and with the team making a comeback next year, it is time to welcome back the team with loud whistles! Another song that appealed to youngsters was Anirudh Ravichander and Hip Hop Aadhi’s Chennai City Gangsta from Vanakkam Chennai. The song still strikes a chord with how the youngsters of TN unite when need be.
Pa. Ranjith’s Madras (2014) is a story around the lives of people residing in North Madras. Lyricist Kablian’s Enga Ooru Madrasu from the film was a huge hit with the masses. “Even though I was born in Puducherry, I’ve been residing in North Madras ever since I was three years old. I’ve grown up seeing people play kabaddi, football, sell flowers, vegetables and take part in thiruvizhas. So, writing the song wasn’t a difficult task, as it where I grew up. If we talk about Madras, we cannot look past their local gaana songs. Decades ago, people from Salem were brought to Chennai for the construction of Rippon Building. They lived in thatched huts on the roadside and when the construction was done, they relocated to other places in the city. This gave birth to slums and their lullabies are the famous gaana songs now,” explains lyricist Kabilan.
Echoing similar thoughts, Velmurugan, who has sung several folk and gaana songs, reveals that the city has embraced him and made him a star — “I belong to Vridachalam, and I grew up listening to gaana songs and folk numbers. When I came to Chennai to pursue studies in Music College is when I understood the essence of a gaana number. During our bus journeys, my friends used to come up with a song on the spot about each locality in Chennai. That sparked my interest and I could understand the difference between several genres in gaana songs. The tunes used in these songs are usually drawn from films, but the lyrics are what makes it stand apart. Sometimes, they use gibberish words which don’t convey any meaning, but it makes the journey enjoyable. Personally, my favourite song is from Marina and the lyrics — Vanakkam vaazha vaikum Chennai, pidikudhu unnai unaku eedu illaye. The song is a testament to my life as I had so many dreams when I came to the city. I realised that if you love the city and put in your hard work, Chennai will nurture you as a good individual.”
Playback singer Shakthisree Gopalan, who was a part of ‘The Madras Song’ that released in 2014, feels privileged to have rendendered her voice. “It was a fun project to be part of because it was everything about Madras. I keep saying that Madras is a feeling, whereas Chennai is a place. I was born and raised in Cochin and I moved here in 2006 to study at Anna University. Over the last 10 years, it has become my home. I came into the city, not knowing anything or anybody, but over a span of time, I started loving it. We used to bunk college and go to Besant Nagar beach or catch a movie at Sathyam. Every year, IIT Saarang is something that we look forward to. Madras is a perfect balance of old and new. It is known for its Margazhi concerts as well as many groundbreaking rock indie bands.”
Given a chance, Shakthi would love to come up with a song for Chennai — “It’s a great theme to write about and I have so many fond memories to choose from. The people and the beach — these are the two things that have to be an integral part of any song about the city, as I resonate with them the most.”
