It is only fitting that the ‘Madras Song’ presented by the Murugappa group, in association with The Hindu, to celebrate the 375th year of the city, was launched at Vivanta by Taj – Connemara — all three being emblematic institutions of the city.
Directed by Vijay Prabhakaran, composed by Vishal Chandrasekharan and penned by Subu, the four-and-a-half minute music video, a tribute to the city, aims to capture the “emotion that is Madras,” said M.M. Murugappan, vice-chairman of the Murugappa Group. Rajiv Lochan, MD and CEO of Kasturi and Sons Ltd., said that having been the voice of Madras for 136 years, it was indeed a privilege for The Hindu be associated with such an endeavour.
The song chronicles the experience of a young girl who is stranded in the city and over time, falls in love with the vibrant metropolis. Mr. Prabhakaran, reflecting on the process of making the video, said, “What we tried to do is infuse the thrill of discovering the city in those who are unfamiliar with the city as well as those who have lived in the city for long. Through the eyes of the protagonist who is exploring the city for the first time, we help even those who have been here for ages re-discover the city’s essence.”
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Sung by noted vocalist Shakthisree Gopalan, the song’s surprise element is the number of recognisable faces that make an appearance. Some of those featured are Vishwanathan Anand , Sudha Raghunathan, Priyadarshini Govind, Gautam Vasudev Menon, ‘Crazy’ Mohan, Haricharan and Naresh Iyer to name a few.
From the vibrance of the beach and the artistic traditions of Kalakshetra to the distinctive street food of the city, Madras Song captures the city in its many aromas, flavours and textures.
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