Chennai is a very unique city for me. here people have an interesting characteristic, in addition to the love and obsession they have for the city, there is an obsession within an obsession when it comes to their localities. A person in Anna Nagar would always love to be there and will not even wish to move to Nungambakkam, that’s how emotional we are when it comes to even our localities in the city that adds up to love for the city on the whole.

I was born and brought up in Chennai and my entire life right from Childhood has been in T Nagar. After dad's demise, it was our mom who brought us up. After a few years in the hostel, I was back in Chennai, and we lived in a Housing Board in T Nagar. I did my schooling in Shrine Vailankanni followed by Holy Angels again in T Nagar. My early memories were jumping the wall of our housing board going to the nearby slum with my brother and enjoying eatables like the “Honey Candy (Thean Mittai) and Mango with chili powder, an old lady was selling the typical Chennai Dosa and Vada-curry opposite to our home where we used to go regularly for breakfast, I enjoyed those days. Then slowly we moved to an apartment near actor Sivaji Ganesan, s house again in T Nagar. I moved on to my graduation from Ethiraj College for Women, the first time I had to take a bus in life, the peak hour rush in public transit was an altogether new experience for me.

During the period I was trying to enter the film industry, we lived in a rented apartment in Kodambakkam for 7 years. One of my goals as I started growing in my career was to buy my own house in Chennai, but T Nagar was not affordable, so I booked an apartment in Vadapalani and while the construction was happening, we used to go to the site and come back, but somewhere in my mind, I was not ready to move to that place which was far from T Nagar. So I went back and told the builder that I am not buying it and went on to buy one in T Nagar though it was thrice expensive. By god’s grace, All good things happened in my career and I am happy in my own space in my locality. That’s the kind of obsession I share with T Nagar.

Pondy Bazaar has been done up to international standards now, but I miss the older version, the street shopping, negotiating with vendors, and the buzz the road had was matchless. When it comes to food, I love the Biriyani we get in Chennai, and I have tasted the best of biriyanis in the city from Midnight Gilli Biryani served in Taj to the one served in street. In fact, when I used to fight with my co-stars in Hyderabad that Chennai has the best Biriyani. I watch a lot of movies and Sathyam Cinemas is my favourite not just for the experience but also for their Popcorn and Cold Coffee. Which I am very obsessed with.

I had traveled across India for shoots, but after 10 days you start missing Chennai that’s what the city does to you. When you touch down and the doors of the aircraft door open that feeling you get is surreal, you feel like in your mother’s lap happily back to your comfort zone, which will push all the odds of pollution, traffic, and heat to the back seat.

I feel very safe here and the care people show for each other is very pure in my opinion. Even late in the night as a girl if you are traveling alone there will be an auto anna who will come forward to help you. People here defy self-obsession, they are not conscious of social status that will give you the liberty to carry yourself the way you want to, without any fear of being judged.

Late I have been working on back-to-back Telugu movies that people keep asking me why don’t get an apartment and stay here, but somewhere I am so obsessed with Chennai that I am happy shuttling and being back here every time, I get a break from work. I always take pride in describing myself as “Chennai Ponnu” on all my social media handles and I owe a lot to this city for what I am today.