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New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Private Movie Theatres bring a new experience to Chennai
The business owners recognise the difference in the cost of celebrations at general venues and at private lounges. 'Privacy and cost are the two main reasons why people are choosing our place,' says Richard. Concurring, Chetan says, 'A grand celebration like one at The Binge Town would cost upwards of `15,000 if done at home or a hotel. At Rajaji Nagar, Bengaluru, it hardly costs `4,000 for decoration, entertainment, food, cake, photoshoot, and more.' These lounges largely attract a younger crowd, typically between the ages of 18 and 40. Be it couples planning low-key anniversaries, friends hosting a going-away party, or even children planning a birthday surprise for grandparents or parents, the idea of having an entire theatre to themselves resonates deeply. 'The repeat rate is a bit lower than what we would have liked it to be,' admits Chetan. 'On average, 8 to 10% of our customers are repeat customers,' he says. While other players have leaned into the celebration market, Richard takes a slightly different approach, 'While others have chosen celebration as the core. We have always concentrated on cinematic experience as the major selling point.' Though the concept of running private theatres as a business is new, the competition has been rising day by day. As lifestyles shift and attention spans shrink, experiences that blend comfort, novelty, and control are winning hearts. In that quiet dark room where the world is on pause, Chennaiites are finding new ways to celebrate – not louder, just better.
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Vegetarian meals at just Rs 40: How Chennai's popular Sangeetha is celebrating its 40-year-anniversary
What connects MS Subbalakshmi, KJ Yesudas and a popular Chennai vegetarian eatery? The answer is Sangeetha, one of Chennai's iconic vegetarian brands that has completed 40 years in the food business. With 34 branches in Chennai and 23 abroad currently, Sangeetha has braved competition and inflation to enjoy continued patronage among Chennai's foodies. Known for its hot, crisp masala dosas and meals, Sangeetha's journey started at a small place in Armenian Street, Parry's, where P Suresh set shop. His father, Padmanabha Pothi, had had considerable experience in the restaurant business, having run hotels in Thiruvananthapuram and later in Chennai's West Mambalam (Hotel Suprabath) and Broadway (Hotel Swathi). Suresh's dream was to become a photographer but the hotel business that his father was passionate about kept drawing him. Their 1985 outing at Parry's was named Sangeetha (which means 'music'), as a hat-tip to legendary singers MS Subbulakshmi and KJ Yesudas. 'These singers gave so many people peace of mind with their voices. We wanted to do the same through our food offerings,' says Suresh, who subsequently became closely associated with the founder of Saravana Bhavan, P Rajagopal (known as Annachi), whom he considers one of his gurus. Suresh, whose day today is filled with meetings and inspections at various branches, is a foodie himself. 'I have travelled the length and breadth of Tamil Nadu and eaten in various places. Kathiravan's Hotel in Srivilliputhur is a personal favourite; it serves three types of sambar. I also fondly remember the times eating butter dosas late at night at a small hotel near a provisions market in Salem.' In Chennai, he is a regular visitor to Pondy Bazaar's Shri Balaajee Bhavan for its onion rava dosa and Rayar's Mess for its unique chutney. Fan for life For many Chennaiites, meals during lunchtime is most satisfying. At Chennai's Sangeetha, they are priced only at Rs 40, till July 24. This limited meals, which also includes a special vada and sweet apart from regular lunch offerings, will be on from 11am to 4pm at select outlets on select dates. This has seen a lot of patronage; the Parry's branch saw more than 2,000 walk-ins for this offer on the first day. While the meals might be sought-after this season, there are a few people — like TV personality and actor, Bosskey — for whom this hotel has been an everyday haunt for the past three years. Every day, at 10am and 6pm, you can find him at the RA Puram branch of Sangeetha – sharing a laugh with a group of friends, some of whom he would have made just that day. 'My breakfast is a combination of pongal, dosa, coffee and laughter,' says Bosskey, who is friends with everyone at the branch, from the manager to the support staff. He jokes, 'Thanks to my daily visits to the hotel, I may soon be entitled to an award for my association with Sangeetha, titled ' Nidhi'!.' For people like Bosskey and many other Chennaiites, Sangeetha is more than a hotel. It is an emotion. And that's exactly what the folks running the restaurant intend to be grateful for, as they turn 40. 'This (the Rs 40 offer) is not about making money. It is about celebration. It is about giving back to the people of Chennai who have given us so much love over the years,' says P Suresh, who runs Sangeetha along with his daughter Sanjana Suresh, P Rajagopal and Anirudh Rajagopal. The Rs 40 limited meals offer is on till July 24, at various branches in Chennai.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
Community Connect: Chennai embraces felting as the new mindful art trend
Looking to take up a new hobby this weekend? Try your hand at felting, a trend that's becoming a hit across age groups. From soft wool tufts to soulful creations, a felting workshop held recently in Nungambakkam drew craft lovers, curious minds, and wellness seekers alike. The event showed how Chennai is slowly embracing mindful art forms as both therapy and community-building practice. 'Chennaiites have always shown great interest in exploring new mediums and are genuinely curious to learn. That makes them a wonderful audience for workshops like felting,' shares Reha Mutha, the curator of the workshop and an artist. The participants are usually 'a mix of everyone,' she says and adds, 'Some people join to incorporate felting into their professional work, while others come simply to enjoy a creative weekend with loved ones. We also see participants who are eager to meet likeminded individuals. Overall, it's a fun yet calming activity that many choose to unwind and recharge over the weekend' What is felting? Felting is a textile art technique where wool fibres are matted and pressed together using heat, moisture, and agitation to create a dense fabric. It's a creative, hands-on activity that is said to encourage mindfulness, reduce stress, and promote fine motor skills and artistic expression. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Providers are furious: Internet access without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo The felting essentials 'A good felting needle, merino wool, and felt paper are the essentials. We often use felt bags as the base, which work really well for the artwork,' says Reha. She adds that material costs typically range from Rs 800–1,000, depending on the type of materials chosen. 'Felting is storytelling through texture' 'From purely technical or professional skill sessions to mindful, hobby-based ones, Chennai's workshop culture is evolving. Felting is unique because it doesn't just stimulate creativity — it relaxes your mind and builds patience. It's a rare combination of art and mindfulness,' says Suhasini, a school teacher. 'Chennai has always had a rich cultural fabric, and now, it's weaving wellness into that tapestry through such creative workshops,' says Ananya, an architecture student. 'Felting is like storytelling through texture. It brings people of all ages together to share, create, and heal,' she adds.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Time of India
I learnt never to use the phrase ‘conquer a mountain': Vidya Singh on summiting Mt Kilimanjaro
For Vidya, who always goes on treks with a personal guide, braving the cold was not an issue compared to battling altitude sickness. Earlier this year, Chennai's Vidya Gajapathi Raju Singh became the oldest Indian woman to summit Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro, at 72. At 5,895m above sea level, it is one of the seven summits of the world and on the bucket list of every avid mountaineer and trekker. The septuagenarian, who believes age is just a number, speaks to us about her experience summiting Kili, staying fit at her age, and more. OF STRICT GUIDES, DIVERSE TOPOGRAPHY AND EXOTIC PLANTS Kili, she informs, was an eight-day trek. 'You begin with a long flight – Chennai to Mumbai and then to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) – and then drive to Moshi, a little town at the foothills of the mountain in Tanzania,' she says. The party comprised six Chennaiites, one from Hyderabad, and two people of Indian origin from Australia and a couple of Germans. 'It was fun being with a mixed group of people. Our guides were very strict and insisted that the whole group stayed together. We kept a very steady pace and walked from camp to camp and enjoyed the different topography (rainforest, moorland, alpine desert, fields with moraines, etc.) and the exotic-looking plants,' she says. THE JOURNEY TO THE TOP For Vidya, who always goes on treks with a personal guide, braving the cold was not an issue compared to battling altitude sickness. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gentle Japanese hair growth method for men and women's scalp Hair's Rich Learn More Undo 'We went on two to three small treks just to get used to the altitude. You are not allowed to rest, and because the climb takes so many days, you're actually acclimatising as you climb. We also take medication to prevent altitude sickness,' she states. Still, despite the precautions, the group was affected by altitude sickness, she reveals. 'On Day 6, one lady got dizzy and had to be sent back. About one-third of the way up, one of the members became completely disoriented and was sent back as well,' she says. It took six days to reach the first of the two summits — Stella Point. 'We reached the point at daybreak, and the view was incredible. You could see the entire horizon. It was magical,' she says. The main summit, Uhuru Peak, about 45 minutes away, has a temperature around -15 degrees Celsius. 'You get to see the valleys in the region, the glaciers, savour the view, take photographs and immediately climb down!' says Vidya. THE TOUGHEST LEG OF THE TREK But climbing down was tougher than climbing up, shares Vidya. 'Since it's so steep, many of us slipped and fell. I fell backwards three or four times, and twice somebody had to pick me up. Of the two other girls who also fell, one broke her hand,' she says, explaining the dangers involved in the adventure. 'We were completely exhausted after the trek; I couldn't even go to the washroom, for I was so tired and my legs were shaking. We collected our certificates and went to bed immediately,' she recalls. She says this trek taught her two lessons. 'One, to leave my ego behind when climbing a mountain since each one is different and another is never to use the phrase 'conquer a mountain'. You go with the greatest respect, pray to the mountain Gods and come back safe,' signs off Vidya, who plans to summit Mt Elbrus (Russia) and Mt Fuji (Japan) next. 'TM Krishna got me into trekking ' Interestingly, this descendant of the Vijayanagaram royals started trekking only at age 59! 'Around 12 years ago, singer T M Krishna invited me on a trek to Ladakh. The trek lasted three weeks, and it was my first time sleeping in a tent; even the toilet was very basic (a hole in the ground with a tent around it!)', recalls Vidya, who has done 19 treks since then! On being fit at her age... 'In our country, once people cross 50 years of age, they age rapidly because we don't have an exercise culture. There's no alternative to eating right and exercising. There's never been a time in my life when I have not exercised. At my age, I need recovery time. So, I try not to overdo anything and also take supplements with my food. If you are able to stay healthy and fit and don't get injured, your good days will last long. Staying healthy is the biggest gift,' says Vidya. Written By: Praveen Kumar S One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
New Indian Express
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Feast on Mangoes, before it's too late at this food festival in Chennai
There's nothing like biting into a ripe, juicy mango, eating away its golden-yellow flesh, and scraping off every last bit of the fruit from the seed with our teeth, until only a pale white seed remains. For Chennaiites, this is religious, as every summer brings a vibrant parade of mangoes into the city's fruit stalls — from the sweet Imam Pasand, to the tangy Banganapalli, and the fragrant Alphonso. Every variety has its moment of glory, piled high on vendor carts, drawing customers like bees. But as June prepares to draw to an end and the south-west monsoon treats us with occasional rainfall, the once-abundant displays begin to shrink. The prices of mangoes creep up, and our favourite varieties start disappearing one after another, reminding us that the season is slipping away. But what if we told you that you don't have to part with mangoes in sorrow this season? What if, instead, you could celebrate the fruit in all its glory — served fresh and cold in cocktails, stirred into savouries, and folded into desserts? Chef, food historian, and MasterChef India (Tamil) judge Rakesh Raghunathan along with Wild Garden Café, Amethyst, Chennai, are presenting Amra — a mango festival — between June 20 and 30; ready to give the fruit the send-off it deserves.
