The Smoky Chariots of Egmore by Ashokamitran
There was a time when one thought of Chennai, it was Egmore railway station that came before one's eyes.....

Pilot Theatre - Royapettah’s Pride? by Ashokamitran
Royapettah area, known for housing the "police case" hospital, also shone as a centre for personalities of the film and theatre world....

The local Persian Street by Ashokamitran
When one happens to pass through Jaani Jan Khan Road in Royapettah, there is a feeling of moving about in a Persian street....

The 'Bazaar' area by Ashokamitran
One can find a number of small shops adjacent to the Amir Mahal dealing with rexine material,...

The Shehnaai of Amir Mahal by Ashokamitran
Till recently, the Royapettah Hospital was synonymous with police cases....

The Jatkas of Royapettah by Ashokamitran
Royapettah is not an abode of the ‘Rayars’, as its name may suggest....

A Place of Minimal Anti-Social Activity by Ashokamitran
The Music Academy was the most important centre for classical music in Chennai some time ago...

'Jayakanthan's Madum' by Ashokamitran
To understand the antiquity of Alwarpet area, one should visit 'Alwarpet Village'...

Kamalhaasan and Hemamalini amidst paddy fields by Ashokamitran
The code Chennai-18 always raised the query ‘Alwarpet or Teynampet’ because Chennai post offices...

Adyar and ‘Arivoli Iyakkam’ by Ashokamitran
Even today, Adyar continues to be the locality of the affluent...

The two women; The two institutions by Ashokamitran
Adyar is noted not only for the big banyan tree, the Theosophical Society and the Library but also for another institution...

The White-clad Ascetics by Ashokamitran
Earlier Adyar was famous not only for the Theosophical Society but also because it housed the residences of some affluent people...

The Boat ride and the Big Banyan by Ashokamitran
Like the cities Venice and Bangkok, Chennai also has three inland waterways. Even though they cut across the residential areas,...

Papier-mache Pilliaiyars by Ashokamitran
The one and only cinema hall of Triplicane till date is the Star Cinema hall....

The Seven-Foot Sorcerer by Ashokamitran
While Vaishnavites and Madhwas form a big group in Triplicane's population,...

Bharathiyar and Triplicane by Ashokamitran
It was on Marina Beach that the great Tamil Poet Bharathiyar must have sung most of his songs...

Bharathi Salai or Books Salai? by Ashokamitran
'Bharathi Salai' would make most people blink. They do not know where it is...

The Mess Interview by Ashokamitran
Triplicane's messes have been famous for the past 100 years and more...

The Wonder Lanes by Ashokamitran
Writer G Azhagiriswami lived in Triplicane. He hailed from a very modest family. He came up on his own efforts and not only became a writer of fiction...

The Abattoir and Gandhiji by Ashokamitran
Closer to the YMCA is the Golf Course of Chennai. A little away from this is the city's abattoir...

The Significant Saidapet by Ashokamitran
Today, if someone said that Saidapet is synonymous with elephantiasis would anyone believe it?...

The Inundated Spencer Area by Ashokamitran
On the day, when I made my first acquaintance with Saidapet, it was raining cats and dogs in Chennai. There were breaches in two lakes...

Mylapore - The Land of Lawyers by Ashokamitran
Mylapore, which was synonymous with temples, tanks, and Tiruvalluvar, was famous for one more aspect in the beginning of this century...

Row, row, row a boat! by Ashokamitran
Trams were plying in Mylapore till the year 1952. The cost of the tickets ranged from a quarter anna,...

Mylapore and Spiritualism - The Inseparable by Ashokamitran
Thank God! Mylapore Club and Mylapore Chit Company are in Mylapore...

The Glorious West Mambalam by Ashokamitran
West Mambalam housed a number of journalists, junior artistes, and drama actors...

A second century cinema theatre! by Ashokamitran
An interesting information! But for one or two houses the others in West Mambalam...

West Mambalam - A land of Elephantiasis! by Ashokamitran
But ironically in those days there was not a single restaurant in that area. Even to have a cup of tea/coffee one had to cross the gate.

Sundara Ramaswami and Tomato Chutney by Ashokamitran
Be it a cut or bruise in any part of the body the one and only remedy was the application of a violet solution over it.

Dr. Chari and Dr. Chari by Ashokamitran
Be it a cut or bruise in any part of the body the one and only remedy was the application of a violet solution over it.

Thiagaraya Nagar - Once a Place of Jackals by Ashokamitran
While entering Ranganathan Street, if we happened to hear the train sound, we could rush and get into the train.