Page 581 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

SHOPPING & ENTER T AINMENT IN CHENNAI  579

Cinema
Academy. Other venues are Rukmini Devi set up Kalakshetra
Narada Gana Sabha, Sri to popularize Bharat Natyam, The choice of films that
Krishna Gana Sabha and the dance form once performed show at Chennai’s many
Karthik Fine Arts. Classical only in temples. Today, these cinemas, such as Devi,
dance, music and theatre two institutions along with Ega and the Sathyam
performances are also held the many sabhas are the major Cineplex, ranges from
at the Museum Theatre in the sponsors of music and dance popular Bollywood and
Pantheon Complex (see pp568– events in the city. Tamil blockbusters to the
9) and the auditorium at During the season, music latest commercial Hollywood
Kalakshetra (see p576). lovers gather in Chennai to releases. Tamil films are very
hear India’s top performers as similar to those produced in
well as promising new talent. Mumbai’s Bollywood, with
Music and Dance Concerts of Carnatic music, song-and-dance sequences
Since the 1920s, Chennai has both vocal and instrumental, and a great deal of melodrama.
been the leading centre of begin in the morning and often But they play a role far beyond
Carnatic music and classical last till midnight. Dance recitals mere entertainment – their
dance. The first music festival are also held. Recently, some themes often have a social
took place in December 1927 dancers have experimented message, and their charismatic
during the Madras session of with the traditional repertoire actors, with their political
the Indian National Congress. to create a contemporary links (see p571), make them
A year later, the Music Academy form that is a fusion of Indian a potent medium of
was established to promote folk and classical forms with communication, especially
Carnatic music, and in 1936, Western themes. among rural audiences.
DIRECTORY
Jewellery and Fabindia Cane and Bamboo Karthik Fine Arts
Antiques Illford House, 3 Woods Rd, 20 C-in-C Rd, Ethiraj Lane. New 16, Bhimanna
off Anna Salai. Tel (044) 2821 1649. Garden St, Alwarpet.
Amethyst Tel (09944) 987607. Higginbotham’s Tel (044) 2499 7788.
14 Padmavathi Rd, Kumaran Silks 116 Anna Salai.
12 Nageswaran Museum Theatre
Jeyapore Colony, Tel (044) 2851 3519.
Rd, T Nagar. Pantheon Rd, Egmore.
Gopalapuram. Tel (044) 2434 3544. Musee Musicals Tel (044) 2819 3238.
Tel (044) 2835 1627. Man Mandir 67 Anna Salai. Music Academy
Prince Jewellery 15 Khader Nawaz Khan Tel (044) 2852 2780. 168 TTK Rd, Royapettah.
Rd, Nungamabakkam.
13 Nagaeswara Rao Rd, Tel (044) 2833 3370. Naturally Auroville Tel (044) 2811 2231.
Panagal Park. Tel (044) Nalli’s Khader Nawaz Khan Rd, Narada Gana Sabha
2436 3137. 9 Nageswaran Rd, T Thousand Lights West, 314 TTK Rd, Alwarpet.
Nagar. Tel (044) 2434 Thousand Lights. Tel (044) 2499 3201.
Rani Arts & Teak 4115. Tel (044) 2833 0517.
8 Nowrojee Rd, Chetpet. Sri Krishna
Radha Silks Poompuhar Gana Sabha
Tel (044) 4286 7800. Sannathi St, Mylapore. 818 Anna Salai.
Tel (09449) 007300. Tel (044) 2852 0624. 8 Maharajapuram
Sukhra Santhanam Salai, T Nagar.
Shilpi
42 North Mada St, Sapthaswara Tel (044) 2814 0806.
1 GG Minar, 23 College
Mylapore. Tel (044) 6555 Rd, Nungambakkam. Music Store Cinema
5555 or (044) 2464 0699. Tel (044) 2498 8303. 165 Royapetta H Rd,
29, CP Ramaswamy Rd. Mylapore.
Vummidi Bangaru Tel (044) 2499 7526. Tel (044) 2499 6498. Devi
48 Anna Salai.
Jewellers Sundari Silks VTI Tel (044) 2855 5660.
Rani Seethai Hall, 603 54–55 North Usman New 180, Anna Salai.
Rd, T Nagar. Ega
Anna Salai. Tel (044) 2829 Tel (044) 2814 3093. Tel (044) 2858 6779. 810 Poonamallee High
2003/2004/1573/1574. Entertainment Rd. Tel (044) 4343 6363.
Handicrafts and
Textiles and Saris Gifts Venues Sathyam Cineplex
Co-optex Apparao Galleries Kalakshetra Sathyam Theatre
Complex, 8, Thiru Vi
7 Wallace Garden, 3rd St, Kalakshetra Foundation,
Pantheon Rd, Egmore. Nungambakkam. Thiruvanmiyur. Ka Rd, Royapettah.
Tel (044) 2819 2394. Tel (044) 2833 0726/2226. Tel (044) 2452 0836. Tel (044) 4224 4224.

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