Chennai turns 379 years old this year. At least that’s what is widely believed. Like a great grandmother in a Mylapore house, no one really knows when a cluster of villages clumped together to become Madras.
The transition of the city’s name from Madras to Chennai has been surprisingly smooth and pretty much across the board. This is, in part, due to the fact that both of these names were very much a part of common parlance, and in vogue.
Four hundred years ago, when the British bought Madrasapattinam (aka Chennapattinam), little did they know that this would be a land of filter coffee, morning raagas and a culture that’s as traditional as it is cosmopolitan.
Anyhow, here’s what happened to the city the past year. You’d be surprised at how Chennai continues to be a warm, fuzzy naive town despite the events that made it noticeably older.
Memorial for Jayalalithaa
In August last year, Edappadi Palanisamy announced a memorial for Jayalalithaa. Why is this relevant? Despite the fact that such construction on the ecologically sensitive Marina isn’t exactly legal, and that Jayalalithaa died with criminal cases against her, the decision was a given.
Ironically, EPS would vehemently oppose a burial for Karunanidhi at the Marina, citing the same reasons he ignored.
Anitha’s Suicide Over NEET
Unable to get admission in a medical college, 17 -year-old Anitha from Tamil Nadu killed herself on 1 September.
Anitha’s suicide had opened yet another Jallikattu-esque socio-emotional chasm. Her death became a rallying cry for anti-NEET voices, which divided the people into two completely opposite sides.
RK Nagar Assembly Elections
The musical chairs to fill That One Seat, that’s been empty for over a year now, finally happened in December.
And on Christmas eve, TTV Dhinakaran emerged as the self-proclaimed messiah, with a freshly launched party and allegations of having paid up to 10k per vote. Nevertheless, he won, and left the DMK and the AIADMK fuming.
Rajinikanth Enters Politics
There's no doubt that Rajinikanth will be the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu. Really!
It's just that no one knows when. He said it in 1992 in a movie (Annamalai), and then in 1995, he admitted to meeting PV Narasimha Rao, the then prime minister, in what was more than ‘just a courtesy.’
And then in 1996, he almost entered politics for real, and backed off real quick, after the DMK lost despite his support.
Finally on 31 December, New Year’s eve, he made the year memorable by announcing his ‘intention’ to enter politics. No further announcements thus far.
The 69th Seer of Kanchi Breathed his Last at the age of 82
He leaves behind a redefined mutt – one that is not afraid of political affiliation and has made headways in the field of education and inclusiveness in religion, all the while holding on to its orthodox roots.
Anti-Sterlite Protests
22 May marked the 100th day of protests by the people of Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) district, TN, against the Sterlite copper unit that has been an environmental and medical threat for over two decades now.
What was until then a peaceful protest of over 2.5 lakh civilians, erupted into violence, which ended with 11 civilians being gunned down by the police, and over 65 grievously injured in the melee.
Thoothukudi residents’ angst against Sterlite Corporation, as well as Sterlite’s repeated offences against government regulations, needs to be studied in some detail to understand the prevalent anti-government, anti-police and anti-corporate mood.
Kaala, Rajinikanth’s First Film with Dalit Narrative
2016’s Kabali was a confused mix between Pa Ranjith’s beef biryani and Rajinikanth’s masala bhaath. But with Kaala, the transition is seamless. Ranjith has written Rajini’s character brilliantly.
After Padayappa, there haven’t been any punch dialogues worth remembering. Kaala changes that, while pandering to Pa Ranjith’s overtly pro-Dalit ideology.
Film Producers’ 48-Day Strike
Stretching into 48 days and following the loss of business on a crucial box-office day like Vishu (Tamil New Year), the theatre strike by Tamil Film Producers’ Council (TFPC) has been called off. The official announcement will most likely be made on 18 March by the stakeholders – TFPC and Digital Service Providers (DSP).
Karunanidhi Dies at 94
On 7 August, 2018, DMK supremo Karunanidhi, who survived a decade of obituaries, finally breathed his last. The wake was massive and the funeral was wrought in controversy, as the government initially refused to grant permission to bury his body at the Marina.
But with the death of Karunanidhi, an era of Tamil politics comes to an end. Tamil Nadu now looks to the 2019 elections, and for the next Rajinikanth release.
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