As Chennai celebrates its birthday, a city-based band brings out an anthem, a foot-tapping number that captures the heart of every chennaiite. How can there be any merrymaking without music? And with Chennai celebrating her birthday, an anthem to the city of margazhi and filter kaapi is the perfect ode to the city The metro is mushrooming with various bands that feel passionate about madras and music.
Oxygen, a young and vibrant band has come up with a Chennai anthem; a tribute to their hometown and a completely new experience for the band members Karthick, Harish, Subu, Vijay and Shakthi.
It’s the perfect recall of all that the city means to each Chennaiite.
The anthem speaks about the all-encompassing style of the city welcoming all cultures, religion and people. Be it the Marina beach, the ‘nostalgic’ koovam river, or the boating at Adyar river, the lyrics are sure to capture you. Reminding us about the industrial revolution that this Asian Detroit has brought in, it flickers a sense of pride in everyone who listens to it.
Penned by C R Anandan, the anthem is the original composition of Vikram, a friend of the band, who passed away in an accident few months ago. When his mother Malini approached the youngsters to take up the song for Madras Week, they were more than happy to help. And with that, they came up with the chennai anthem, singing spiritedly “Vandanam, vandhanam, Chennaikku vandhanam. Vandarai vazhavaikkum, panbukku vandanam” Ask these youngsters about the metro, they generously dole out praises. “All aspects of culture gel well in Chennai; be it fashion, music, art, food, everything is well balanced here compared to other cities,” says Subu.
While Harish considers Chennai as the melting pot of cultures, Shakthi feels that the city has also largely managed to preserve its heritage.“And besides”, adss Karthik “There is no need to be pretentious in Chennai,”