The crowd joined in unison with ’12b flat-inile…’ as Vinaita Sivakumar started singing the P Susheela and TM Soundararajan raga, ‘Enna Enna Varthaigalo…’, off the record at Nungambakkam on Thursday evening Gayi, referring to a popular version of the same song by comedian Vadivelu.
A few years back, this would not have been possible in most of the premium night clubs in Chennai. Now, amidst dim lights, bar snacks and cocktail glasses, you can sing or dance along to popular Tamil and regional tunes.
In the last decade, Bollywood nights began to become popular in clubs that typically attracted young people. Hipster crowd for their Techno, House and EDM. However, even in Chennai – the heart of Kollywood – Tamil music didn’t find a place in DJ’s mix. “There has always been an unwritten rule about playing Tamil songs in many pubs in Chennai. It seemed that playing Tamil songs would not set the right standard,” says Hari Chandran, managing director of Off the Record, a popular hangout in the city.
Sinbad, general manager of Komune Bar and Kitchen in T Nagar, says this culture of sensitivity to Tamil songs was limited to Chennai only. “When you go to Singapore or Malaysia, there are clubs that play Tamil songs and have been doing so for many years. While guests often requested to play Tamil numbers, we declined. Then, two years ago, we wanted to try it. That’s why we added Regional Nights to our weekly roster.”
EC41 in Chennai
By 1999, when Chennai got its first proper nightclub – Hell Freezes Over – it had a dress code and curated playlist like most big clubs around the world. Then came EC41 on East Coast Road, Pasha in The Park and Dublin in the Park Sheraton (now Crowne Plaza).
In 2014, Justice D Hariparanthaman and two other advocates were denied entry to the TNCA club for wearing dhoti, and later that year, the Tamil Nadu government passed a bill to remove dress code restrictions in clubs across the state. Did.
Although there was no rule discouraging sarees or dhotis, you would rarely see people in them when partying on a Saturday night. That too is changing, as some bars encourage their guests to wear local clothes and stay comfortable for Tamil and regional nights out.
Dj Deepika Naveen | Photo credit: Johan Satyadas
“We grew up watching our parents in sarees and dhotis and listening to Tamil songs. But when it comes to going out for a party, we consider it off-brand,” says city DJ, Dipika Naveen. She says, “The first time I wore a saree to play Tamil songs at an event, I saw that the crowd loved it and wanted to make it a regular practice. As organizers of these events, it is our responsibility to bring back the pride of embracing Tamil culture on the dance floor as well.
Club owners say one concern that prevents them from hosting regional nights is crowd control. “The strategy here is to filter the guests efficiently. We try not to allow deer in unless they are our regulars,” says Hari Chandran. An equal ratio of men to women and alert bouncers allocate space to female guests. Help make it safer and more comfortable for.
Tamil Night at The Cycle Gap, Anna Nagar
While partying is often thought of as entertainment for the youth, the introduction of Tamil and regional nights has further opened up the guest list. Raghu Raman, Director, Cycle Gap, says, “We have been hosting Regional Nights for two months now and there has been a change in the age of the guests coming to the event – they are a bit older. Earlier we used to mostly have groups of friends or colleagues but now we are seeing some families coming as well.”
For guests, these events have become a much-awaited occasion to sing their favorite songs, either playing it with a soundtrack or vocalists, or plunging into the joys of karaoke. Later in the night, chairs and tables are moved around to accommodate dancing to the DJ’s mixes. “I usually have a line-up ready with peppy numbers from the 90s, 2000s and some recent hits, but I make it a point to accommodate all the requests I receive. Sometimes songs that become social media trends are also requested. From time to time, I also use it as a platform to play songs by independent artists to support their talent,” says Deepika.
While this is a growing trend in clubs in Chennai, it is not a new practice for some. Pasha in The Park and Black & White at Residency have been playing Tamil and regional tunes for over 15 years – long before club hopping through the week became popular. “Given the fact that our premises was once home to the iconic Gemini Studios, it was more fitting that we dedicate a night to local music at Pasha,” says Rajesh Radhakrishnan, general manager of The Park Chennai.
During ‘Top Tucker Tuesday Night’ at the park, Gun Powder Podi Idli, Kozhi Melugu, Khundapur Mutton Ghee Roast, Tawa Prawns, Fried Fish and Chettinad Fish Fingers are served. At other clubs, too, signature cocktails and curated dishes are on the cards, as owners, mixologists and chefs notice that party-goers are responding to regional menus.
Vinita Sivakumar in Off the Record, Nungambakkam
As clubs adopt this culture closer to home, it’s also reaping some logistical benefits. “The decision to host Tamil Nights has paid off. Before we introduced this, we used to get about 50 guests on Thursdays. Now, we see 200 people,” says Hari. “It just makes us think: Why did we wait so long?”