Chitkarauonlinemba: improved article

2025-11-12T02:11:37Z

improved article

>GreenC bot: Rescued 7 archive links; reformat 7 links. Wayback Medic 2.5

2021-04-19T02:31:08Z

Rescued 7 archive links; reformat 7 links. Wayback Medic 2.5

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2012}}

[[File:Dosa with chutney and sambar traditionally served in banana leaf.jpg|thumb|Dosai with chutney and sambar traditionally served in banana leaf]]

Popularly called the "Gateway to the South India",<ref>http://citypatriots.com/asia/india/tamil-nadu/chennai</ref> the culture of [[Chennai]] is distinct from that of any other Indian city. Being a cosmopolitan hub, the city's culture reflects its diverse population that has resulted in a unique blend. Though a modern metropolis, Chennai continues to be traditional and conventional in certain ways. Traditional music, dance and all other art forms of [[Tamil Nadu]] are very popular in the city. One can find a peculiar cultural blend in city, from traditional foods to fast foods, from ancient temple architecture to modern high-rises, and from classical music and dance to the growing nightlife.

== Music, dance and drama ==
[[File:Bharatanatyam danseuse.jpg|thumb|150px|upright|A [[Bharata natyam]] concert]]
[[File:Abhishek Raghuram at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha.jpg|thumb|200px|Carnatic music concert at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha]]
The city is known for its classical music shows.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lifeinchennai.com/chennai_culture.htm|title=Chennai|publisher=lifeinchennai.com|access-date=2009-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090808031331/http://www.lifeinchennai.com/chennai_culture.htm|archive-date=8 August 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Every December, Chennai holds a five-week-long ''[[Madras Music Season|Music Season]]'', which has been described as one of the world's largest cultural events.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/03/stories/2005020301281000.htm | title=Opinion : Music Musings | date=3 February 2005 | newspaper=[[The Hindu]] | access-date=26 July 2018 }}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The Music Season encompasses performances (''kacheries'') of traditional Carnatic music by hundreds of artists in and around the city. This happens during the Tamil season of ''Margazhi'' and this period is a festive and joyous time in chennai. The mercury lies in the low twenties and the music rendered by the great musicians is soul-stirring and sensational. Carnatic music makes the December season a must-experience for visitors to Chennai.

Chennai is also known for the classical Indian dance, the [[Bharatanatyam]], which is also the official dance of Tamil Nadu. An important cultural centre for Bharatanatyam is [[Kalakshetra]] ([[Sanskrit]] for "place of the arts"), located on the beach in the south of the city.

Chennai has a vibrant theatre scene, with a large number of Tamil plays being performed. Political satire, slapstick comedy, history, mythology and drama are some of the popular genres of Tamil plays. Prominent theatre personalities include Pammal Sambanda Mudaliar,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/01/14/stories/2002011400120300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030630031952/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/01/14/stories/2002011400120300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 June 2003|title=He bestrode the Tamil stage|date=14 January 2002|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=2007-09-22}}</ref> K.S. Nagarajan,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/10/10/stories/2003101001310600.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031122183919/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/10/10/stories/2003101001310600.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 November 2003|title=Undiminished passion for the stage|date=10 October 2003|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=2007-09-22}}</ref> Cho Ramaswamy,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/07/17/stories/2003071700060100.htm|title=The Sultan of sarcasm|newspaper=The Hindu|date=17 July 2003|access-date=2007-09-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230073420/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/07/17/stories/2003071700060100.htm|archive-date=30 December 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Indira Parthasarathy,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/04/16/stories/1316078p.htm|title=A firm grasp on theatre|date=16 April 2000|publisher=The Hindu|access-date=2007-09-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129011233/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/04/16/stories/1316078p.htm|archive-date=29 November 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> R.S. Manohar,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/11/stories/2006011115150700.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060114050053/http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/11/stories/2006011115150700.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 January 2006|title=Actor R.S. Manohar dead|date=11 January 2006|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=2007-09-22}}</ref> N. Muthuswamy,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/09/14/stories/2007091451170100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071105072010/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/09/14/stories/2007091451170100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2007|title=Strong faith in rural innocence|date=14 September 2007|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=2007-09-22}}</ref> English theatre is also popular in Chennai.[http://www.evam.in Evam], a popular English theatre company is based in Chennai. They are the logistics partners of The Metroplus Theatre festival<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080805182727/http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/02/stories/2008080250710200.htm Curtains up - Chennai Theatre Fest 2008]</ref> which is held by a leading newspaper of the city, ''The Hindu'', every year around July and August. A number of other English theatre companies like Unarviyam, [http://www.strayfactory.com Stray Factory], [http://theatrey.com Theatre Y], ASAP productions, Still Water Productions, Boardwalkers, [[Masquerade (Theatre Group)|Masquerade]] - the performance group, Theatre Nisha, [http://www.rebelz.in Rebelz], Stagefright Productions and last but not the least, India's oldest English theatre company,[http://www.themadrasplayers.org/ Madras Players] stage plays throughout the year. Over the last four years{{when|date=January 2012}}, Chennai has become active in theatre activities. School and college cultural festivals (locally called ''[[culfest]]s'') play an important role by providing platforms for the city's youth to indulge in art and culture. These culfests attract participants from around India. Some of the larger culfests in the city are ''[[Instincts]]''([[SSN College of Engineering]]), ''[[Saarang]]'' ([[IIT Madras|IITM]]), ''[[Techofes]]'' ([[College of Engineering, Guindy]]), ''[[Deep Woods]]'' ([[Madras Christian College|MCC]]), ''[[Kalakrithi]]'' ([[Alagappa College of Technology|ACT]]), ''[[Mitafest]]'' ([[Madras Institute of Technology|MIT]]) and ''[[Down Sterling]]'' ([[Loyola College, Chennai|Loyola]]).

Madras youth choir, based at Chennai - the oldest Indian choral music group in India started by M B srinivasan, presents many programmes through the year.

Also present is an established and growing culture of bands in western and other styles. Predominantly these are 'student bands', although there are professional bands such as [[The LBG]]. While the student bands are most visible in cultural fests and other competitions, pro-events like the ''June Rock Out'', organised by the Unwind Centre, are dominated by established bands.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/06/16/stories/2007061651910800.htm
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071206142403/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/06/16/stories/2007061651910800.htm
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 6 December 2007
| title = Brainstorm at JRO
| date = 16 June 2007
| newspaper = [[The Hindu]]
| access-date = 2007-09-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2004/07/14/stories/2004071400220100.htm
| title = Riffs and rhythms
| newspaper = The Hindu
| date = 14 July 2004
| access-date = 2007-09-22
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071128100024/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2004/07/14/stories/2004071400220100.htm
| archive-date = 28 November 2007
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>

The mylapore webportal dedicated to Arts & Culture of Chennai, music, drama, awards and events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mylapore.net|title=Mylapore {{!}} Margazhi Isai Festival - Local , News, Events, Updates , margazhi isai festival|website=Mylapore {{!}} Margazhi Isai Festival|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-13}}</ref>

==Cinema==
{{main|Tamil cinema}}
Chennai is the base for the large Tamil movie industry, known as the [[Kollywood]]. The industry is, especially, attributed to the locality of [[Kodambakkam]], where most of the movie studios are located. The industry makes about 100 [[Tamil language|Tamil]] movies a year, and its [[film soundtrack]]s dominate the music scene in the city. Kollywood is the second biggest revenue generating Movie Industry in India only after Bollywood. Tamil movies and personalities are followed worldwide. Some of most technologically advanced movie studios of India are located in Chennai. Chennai also conducts Movie Fairs every year, attracting movies from worldwide. The Chennai film industry produced the first nationally distributed film across India in 1948 with Chandralekha. They have one of the widest overseas distribution, with large audience turnout from the Tamil diaspora. They are distributed to various parts of Asia, Africa, Western Europe, North America and Oceania. It is estimated by the Manorama Yearbook 2000 (a popular almanac) that over 5,000 Tamil films were produced in the 20th century.

== Art ==
{{unreferenced section|date=January 2012}}
[[File:Chennai Monument for Working Men.jpg|thumb|208px|right| Monument for Working Men at the Beach in Chennai, see [[Triumph of Labour]]]]
[[File:Annal Ambedkar Manimandapam.jpg|thumb|left|208px|[[Annal Ambedkar Manimandapam, Chennai]]]]

Chennai has played a vital role in the evolution of traditional and contemporary art in India.

Lalit Kala Akademi, at Greams Road, holds regular exhibitions of works by established and emerging artists.

The [[Cholamandal Artists' Village]] is a centre of art and craft where artists and sculptors work in their own studios to supplement their income from the sale of paintings or sculptures. A permanent gallery attracts visitors throughout the year.

Chennai has produced some of the finest artists in India like K.C.S. Panicker, [[K.M.Adimoolam]], A.V. Ilango, R.B. Bhaskaran, R.M. Palaniappan and N. Radhakrishnan.

Emerging artists including Aparajith, Benita Perciyal, Sivabalan, Cheenu Pillai, Sheela Maradi and Ramasuresh have made a name for themselves.

==People==
{{unreferenced section|date=January 2012}}

The majority of residents in Chennai are native Tamilians and descendants of settlers from different part of Tamil Nadu. There are also sizeable migrant [[Telugu people|Telugu]], [[Malayalee]], [[Sri Lankan Tamil]] communities in the city. A regional hub since British times, other prominent communities are the [[Anglo Indian]], [[Bengali people|Bengali]], [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]], [[Gujarati people|Gujarati]] and [[Marwaris|Marwari]] communities and people from [[Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Bihar]]. Chennai also has a growing expatriate population especially from the [[United States]], [[Europe]] and [[East Asia]] who work in the industries and [[Information Technology|IT]] centres.

[[Tamil language|Tamil]] is the city's first language. [[Indian English|English]] is spoken widely in South Chennai and Central Chennai, (Kanchipuram and Chennai districts) and is used almost exclusively in business, education and other [[White-collar worker|white collar]] professions. Tamil spoken in Chennai uses [[English language|English]] words liberally, so much so that it is often called ''[[Madras bhashai]]'' (Tamil for "Madras language"). Other languages spoken in the city include [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Malayalam]] and [[Urdu]] and they contribute to the vocabulary of Madras bhashai as well.

Chennai celebrates a number of festivals. Pongal, celebrated in the month of January, is the most important festival of and is celebrated over a period of five days. Pongal has been designated the "State Festival" for its unique celebration that is typical of Tamil Nadu. Though a [[harvest]] festival it is still celebrated widely in the city. Tamil New Year's Day signifying the beginning of the Tamil calendar usually falls on 14 April and is celebrated widely. Being a cosmopolitan city, almost all major religious festivals like [[Diwali|Deepavali]], [[Eid ul-Fitr|Eid]] and [[Christmas]] are celebrated here.

==Cuisine==
{{further|Street food of Chennai}}

==See also==
{{Portal|India|Society}}
*[[Abbas Cultural Organization]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Chennai Topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Culture Of Chennai}}
[[Category:Culture of Chennai| ]]

Culture of Chennai - Revision history

Chitkarauonlinemba: improved article

>GreenC bot: Rescued 7 archive links; reformat 7 links. Wayback Medic 2.5