In recent times, Chennai has become a fashion hub for many. However, the Tamil language is sadly losing its importance. At a time when people consider it a fashion statement to sport T-shirts representing other countries and states, a refreshing initiative by this group of youngsters is heartwarming. Their aim? To bring out Tamil in all its excellence.
“Udai alla Unnarvu” (this is not a garment, but a feeling). If you thought this was one of Superstar’s punch dialogues, you’re wrong. This is how the tagline of a quirky, colouful T-shirt sold at Saravana Stores reads. And as immediately as you unwrap it to see the brand, it reads, ‘Tamil Kirukkan’ — someone who’s mad about Tamil. Mugil Chandran, the owner of the brand, proudly proclaims, “I’m one”.
So, what took this young man from film direction into the textile business? A smile lighting up his face, Mugil sits down to share his little story and affinity for the Tamil language with us. A student of Loyola with a Visual Communication degree, Mugil completed his Film Studies from Puna. An aggressive young man who wanted to spread the essence of Tamil language, Mugil, along with friends Prabhu, Venky and Divakar, started this project. “I’m not here to uplift the language,” clarifies Mugil. “It is because of the (beauty of the) language that I want to be a Tamizhan,” he adds. He identifies himself as a fellow Tamizhan and wants to deliver the same message to others. In fact, this was the driving force behind Mugil printing T-shirts about Tamil in Tamil — something he believes will bring people together.
It all started with the ‘Tamil Maanadu’ that took place last June, when Mugil and his friends decided to print their views on Tamil. After three days of hard work, they sold 1000 T-shirts at the Tamil Maanadu, which provided them the perfect launchpad. Mugil remembers his last customer, “He was a scavenger who came up to us and asked for a discount. We gave him the T-shirts from the showcase, for which he gave us whatever money he had. We realised that the power of the language still existed.” He adds, “Now, I’m making a living with this beautiful language.” What is striking about these T-shirts is their design. Printed texts like ‘100% Tamil’ or an embroidered Tamil logo look trendy and can be worn by anyone. Interesting prints like those of Bharatiyar and Thiruvalluvar are also captivating.
Mugil does the designing himself. "Any person who wears these T-shirts consiciously becomes a Tamizhan,” he explains. The T-shirts are produced in Tirupur and are sold at the Saravana Stores in Chennai."We are seeking help from the Textile Ministry too,” says Mugil. The T-shirts are also available at retail stores like Cool wear, 18plus and Fashion Look. Mugil Chandran could be contacted at 9176047630.
