Here’s more about the events that Chennai Heritage, publisher of Madras Musings, is organising to celebrate Madras Week:

Chennai Heritage Heritage Lectures

All talks will begin at 7.00 pm and will be preceded by tea/coffee and refreshments from 6.30 pm. The programmes will end by 8.15 pm.

15th August (Taj Connemara): My Madras, a talk by Sivasankari, the well-known author. An awareness on social issues; a special sensitivity to social problems; a commitment to set people thinking – these are the unique characteristics of the writer Sivasankari. Hers has been a career devoted to touching the hearts of people through in-depth research.

16th August (The Park): J. Chandrababu and ­Madras Bhashai in films, a talk-cum-audio visual presentation by Mohan V Raman, well-known film and television actor who has carved a niche for himself in his use
of films as a media for conducting management
training sessions. Mohan Raman has been a ­fixture at the Chennai Heritage lecture series for three years
now.

17th August (The Park): Tanglish in Tamil ­Cinema, a talk-cum-audiovisual presentation by Bharadwaj Rangan, the well-known and National Award-winning film critic of the Indian Express. It is said that several film-goers base their decisions to go to a film based on his views.

18th August: (GRT, T’Nagar): The Writing on the Wall – Life in Ancient Madras as gleaned from inscriptions, a presentation and talk by Pradeep Chakravarthy. Pradeep is a young heritage enthusiast who combines his professional commitments as a member of the Leadership Coaching team at an IT major with his passion for several aspects of heritage.

19th August (The Madras Gymkhana Club): The Old Guard: Architectural Firms of early 20th Century ­Madras, a presentation and talk by Sujatha Shankar. Sujatha is a well-known architect of the city with ­several prestigious projects her to credit. Her abiding passion for heritage led to her make a film on the city’s architectural heritage. She is also on the Heritage Conservation Committee of the CMDA.

20th August (Freemasons Hall): Sex and The City, a talk by Dr. Vijay Nagaswami, the city’s leading psychiatrist who specialises in relationship issues. He is also a well-known author with three books to his credit. He writes for The Hindu besides conducting workshops and seminars for several business houses in the city.

21st August (Taj Mount Road): Policing the City, a talk by T. Rajendran, the Police Commissioner of Chennai. It is Mr Rajendran’s responsibility to ensure law and order in this vast and teeming metropolis and he has a string of facts, figures and anecdotes on what goes into ensuring Chennai remains law-abiding.

22nd August (Ceebros Raintree Hotel, St Mary’s Road): The T’Nagar I knew, a talk by Nalli Kuppuswami Chetty. No resident of this city can be unfamiliar with Nalli Kuppuswami Chetty who, apart from being a textile baron, is also a prolific writer, a patron of the arts and champion of social causes. He has written a book on T’Nagar and this was reviewed in Madras Musings some time ago.

Chennai Heritage Hertiage Tours

August 14: 6.30 am – Popham’s Broadway – Travel down one of Chennai’s historic thoroughfares and relive the times when it was the place to be in. The first private hospital, the first home of Ananda Vikatan, a historic foundry, old theatres, some old churches, the home of Harrisons, one of the premier catering houses of the city, opticians, cycle shops, a 110-year-old club and much more. Tour by van and walk. Programme ends with breakfast. (Conducted by Sriram V. Prior reservation necessary through email to srirambts@gmail.com . Walk fee: Rs 400 per head.)

August 15: 6.30 am – Wandering through Vepery – This historic area was once a village with a lake in the middle. Now it is home to several old churches, the first printing press in the city, plenty of historic educational institutions and the veterinary hospital. Did you know Muthulakshmi Reddy first lived in Vepery and her house is on its last legs? And what about the intersection of Maddox Street and Gen. Collins Road where a grisly murder once took place? All this and more. Programme ends with breakfast. (Conducted by Sriram V. Prior reservation necessary through email to srirambts@gmail.com . Walk fee: Rs 400 per head.)

August 21: 6.30 am – NSC Bose Road (the old ­Esplanade) and Rajaji Salai (First Line Beach) were where business laid its roots in olde Madras. Here was where the first commercial and banking houses, Arbuthnots, Parrys, Best & Co, Gordon Woodroffe and several others began life. Interspersed with some architectural masterpieces, this is where the business history of Madras was written. On the opposite side is the Port Trust which played an important role in transforming this city from Kipling’s tired, withered beldame to a thriving centre of prosperity. (Programme ends with breakfast. Conducted by Sriram V. Prior reservation necessary through email to srirambts@gmail.com . Walk fee: Rs 400 per head.)

9.30 pm – George Town by Night – Once the centre of the city, this was home to a bustling night life. Devadasis and common prostitutes apart, George Town was famous for its cinema theatres, some of which still survive. Experience a night show in one of these. And GT was known for its sensational murders of which at least three, all committed at night, went down in history. And what about shellings by warships in the dead of night? Relive all this and end it with a glass of flavoured milk. (Conducted by Sriram V. Prior reservation necessary through email to srirambts@gmail.com. Walk fee: Rs 400 per head.)

Chennai Heritage & Freemasons Sight & Sound events

At the Freemasons Hall, from 23rd to 29th August. At 7.00 pm. Tea from 6.30 pm.

23 August – Contributions of Freemasons to Madras. Presentation by KRN Menon followed by the screening of a film on freemasonry.

24 August – People’s Park Vazhi Nadai Chindu. A song and dance performance by Gayatri Balagurunathan and PT Narendran. This traces the route taken from George Town to Mylapore by a couple in 1915 (in Tamil).

25 August – On the Wallajhah Trail. A presentation and talk by S. Anwar, one of the best known photographers of the city and an enthusiastic researcher on the history of the Muslims in South India.

26 August – Songs and Poems on Madras. A performance by Ronald Smith Ansari. This will include performances of songs that Smith Ansari learnt in his childhood and also poems from Madras Madrigals, a collection of verses on the city published in 1928.

27 August – The Madras Youth Choir. A choral music performance that will feature songs of the path-breaking composer M.B. Srinivasan. This will be interspersed with a presentation on his life.

28 and 29 August – Mithran Devanesen presents Two Tales of a City, each performance comprising two short plays on Madras of today. The programme on August 29 is exclusively for Freemasons.

NOTE: Limited seating at all venues. Freemansons Hall: seating available only for 100 persons, on first-come, first-served basis.