Madras: A Mood, A Memory, A Moment

We know we are Chennaigaga. That’s the name of the brand. We are all about Chennai celebrations and as soon as we launched the brand, we quickly learned that many of us are hung up on our city’s old name – Madras. Enter Madras nostalgia as part of our mission statement.

There’s something about the word “Madras” that just hits differently.

It’s not just the old name for Chennai—it’s a whole feeling.
Say it out loud: Madras.
Feels like filter coffee in a stainless-steel tumbler, doesn’t it?

Most of us say “Chennai” out of habit. It’s what the airport says. It’s what the news says. It’s what Google Maps says.
But every now and then, something stirs. The breeze shifts, the light glows golden, and suddenly—it’s Madras again.

Madras is a Mood!

Madras is what we say when we’re feeling a little nostalgic, a little poetic, maybe even a little romantic about the city.

It’s the Madras of:

• Cycle rickshaws and hand pulled rickshaws
• Stout Amby cars and cool Fiats
• Sparkling beaches and sundal sellers carrying large tins
• Weekend Cinemas and Drive In for the whole family and also family-like friends
• The smell of Mallipoo and Maavadu
• The soothing sound of a Carnatic kutcheri on a December evening

Madras is what we whisper when we see the rain hit the red oxide floors, or when we walk barefoot across a temple corridor lit with oil lamps.
It’s when you pass by your school building and remember the version of you that first fell in love with words, or cricket, or Bajji on the beach.

Madras is Not in a Hurry

Chennai moves. Chennai works. Chennai builds.

But Madras?
Madras leans back.
Madras remembers.

It doesn’t rush. It sits on a thinnai and watches the street. It listens to MS Subbulakshmi while the rasam simmers. It marvels at MSV’s genius and Isignani Ilayaraja’s interludes. It follows the radio and call-ins for the most popular song requests as the household waits for the Sunday special biriyani and fish fry to be cooked to perfection.

And that’s what makes it so special—it’s the city when it feels most like home. When you’re not trying to do anything. Just being.

Madras is a Character

If Chennai were a person, Madras is her alter ego. The part that still writes letters that the Postman carries. The part that insists on saying “paati” not “grandma.” The part that corrects your Tamil with exacting love and one raised eyebrow.

Madras doesn’t care for your start-up pitch. But she will quietly ask if you love what you do and why you do it and who it benefits.

She will iron your shirt to warm, creaseless perfection.
And if you complain about the heat, she’ll say, “Dei, this is still April only, da!”

Why We Still Say “Madras”

We say “Madras” because:

• It reminds us of who we were and how things were
• It holds everything we love and refuse to lose
• It makes even the sweat and the slow Internet bearable

It’s the version of the city that still lives in us, no matter how many flyovers, food apps, or fancy cafes come and go.

In fact, some of us deliberately collect things that say “Madras.”
A mousepad. A fridge magnet. A t-shirt that wears the name proudly across the chest. Because it’s not just nostalgia—it’s identity.

Chennai is the World.

Madras is the Heart.

So maybe the two names don’t compete—they coexist.

Chennai is the ambitious city that is the Now and wants to run forward to reach new places.
Madras is the soul that quietly reminds it where it came from clasping its hand, keeping it grounded and still full of heart.

Both are valid. Both are vibrant.
But Madras... Madras is the one we call upon when we’re feeling tender.

When the light is low, the memories are high, and we’re craving comfort—not just quick convenience.

At Chennaigaga, we understand that feeling.

We’ve built a brand around it.
A brand that celebrates every nuance of Chennai and Madras.

From quirky tees to magnets that speak Chennai and Tamil, to gifts that bring home a bit of the city’s spirit -- every piece carries at least a wink or a nod, and definitely, a whole lot of heart.

So, the next time someone asks you why you still say “Madras,”
Just smile and say—
“Because sometimes, the old name just fits better.”

Do you call it Madras too? What’s your “Madras moment”? Tell us in the comments—we’d love to know!