CHENNAI: When Visanji R Shah arrived in Chennai in 1966, Pondy Bazaar was but a posh green suburb, hardly the busy shopping commercial locality it is today. A Gujarat-based Burma-settled rice businessman, Shah was forced to move out of Burma and came to Madras as a refugee, with `10,000. He saw a promising business market at that time.
He opened King’s Corner, a 500 sq ft shop opposite Naidu Hall. Now, halfa- century and three generations later, the Shah’s have made a business legacy of their name, and a home of Chennai. Meeting with the second generation, Amrit Shah was a quest in itself. The 75-year-old says, “The clothing business was just picking up at that time.” Amrit joined his father a year after the shop opened (1967), and he admits he didn’t have a clue about the business at the time.
“I was only 22 and a brat. I was born with a silver spoon in Burma, and knew nothing except that I wanted to establish a name in the fashion world,” says Amrit. Initially, King’s Corner sold undergarments and other small garments, and gradually became King’s Distributors collaborating with Maftalal Shirts. By the 80s, they were one of the biggest retail stores selling the biggest brands in India. “We were associated with the then big brands like Armour, Raymonds, Pantaloons, Wrangler, etc,” he says. “T Nagar was a quiet residential area. The shop timings were short — 1-3 pm was our noon siesta time.”
The list of King’s Corner’s clientele reads the who’s who of Kollywood such as Kamal Haasan, Sivakumar, Rajinikanth, SPB, Ramraj, Napoleon, Arjun and the heartthrob of that time, Gemini Ganesan. “I invited Gemini to the opening ceremony of one of our expanded showrooms. Then he became a regular customer, and that’s how we gradually became good friends! Gemini never charged me anything for any openings. Celebrities today charge `5-10 lakh!” he laughs.
The veteran bizmen knew how to keep with the city’s changing fashion trends. In the early 90s when denim arrived in the fashion scene, King’s Corner collaborated with Wrangler to open their first Wrangler exclusive store in India, ‘Jean Junction’. In the 2000s, with ethnic wear making a comeback, the Shah’s third generation, Rajiv, launched ‘Lagan’, the first of its kind exclusive store for men, specialising in groom wear. With a 10,000 sq ft store, celebrities like Suriya, Karthi, Jeyam Ravi, Vikram, Vijay Amritraj, Srikanth, Prashanth, etc are some of its regular customers.
Amrit admits he is a great cinema buff irrespective of language. “I watch Hindi, Tamil, and English films. Of the latest films, I love Dangal,” he shares, adding that Sathyam Cinemas is his favourite haunt in Chennai. Fifty years of running clothing business in Chennai, what’s their business secret? “We ensure customer satisfaction, that’s our biggest strong point,” he shares.
“We believe in ‘Service with style, splendour and smile.” The retired septuagenarian is focussing on other pursuits. He has pledged to donate his eyes, helps in children’s education and is a life member of Physical Handicapped Association. “One must be good and do good to be happy,” he smiles.
Lagan is located at Thirumalai Pillai Road. For details call: 28156462