I was brought to Madras when I was three months old probably.
As a little boy I used to live in this place called Border Thottam, behind Jayaprada Theatre on General Patters Road. Of my earliest and significant memories of Madras was Spencer Plaza; then called Spencer’s burning down in 1985. I remember watching it from my terrace.
It was a scene to remember and is still fresh in my mind.
Another memory was that of a massive cyclone that hit Madras in mid-80s. I remember making paper boats and playing outside.
I studied in National English School on Lloyd’s Road all my 12 years. Those were the best years of my life.
Back then I used to love watching movies. We used to frequent theatres like Alankar, Sathyam, Devi and others like Odeum and Wellington, which I don’t think are there anymore. But my fascination for cinema really hit me when I saw Idayathai Thirudadae. I was about 15 and absolutely zapped watching that film. I soon joined PC Sriram as an assistant. He has been completely instrumental in honing my skills. Otherwise I’m not at all driven by myself. I learnt most of my skills just being there and watching him work.
As a family we loved getting Chinese food from this place called Chung King, on Mount Road just above Musee Musicals. The ice-creams at this place called Jaffar were just great and our favourite pizza place was Snappy, which once stood where Copper Chimney on RK Salai stands now.
I love parking my car at the Royapuram Bridge opposite the container terminus and just sit there doing nothing. I find it very therapeutic.
I always go to Sathyam to watch movies; I love that theatre. I love eating out at Copper Chimney, Nair Mess, Kurrinji, Karpagambal mess and Club House at Taj Mount Road. I had my own coffee shop called ‘Coffee?’ in Adyar but we had to stop it.
I would love to start my own restaurant in this city now.