The International Film Festival which was held in Chennai, for the first time, had its films screened in Abirami theatre. The film ‘Taxi Driver’ attracted a huge crowd. The film’s director Martin Scorces was acclaimed to be an art film director. But we are not sure whether the above mentioned film falls under the category of an art film. In countries like India, it is said, that this film’s tickets were sold in the black for a price as high as Rs.500.

A modern shopping mall can be seen in Pursawalkam High Road called the Prince Towers. I think this is the largest shopping mall in the city. It is mega complex that has shops selling costly goods in an area that was purely residential. One corner of Pursawalkam area is Kilpauk. There was a time when the name 'Kilpauk' had a different connotation. Today the hospital has been given a decent name and is a specialty hospital treating patients with various psychiatric and mental disorders.

If it is Kilpauk in the east then it is Vepery in the west. One can see an old clock tower here which has been a landmark for many years. Next to the Royapettah clock tower this clock tower assumes an important place in the city. When wristwatches were far beyond the reach of a common man it was on these clock towers that the public relied on to know the exact time. Certain private institutions also had this facility. Even today the St. George Cathedral at Cathedral Road and P.Orr. and Sons in Anna Salai maintain their own clock towers and keep the city informed about the time. These clock towers are of some help to the people who are thankful for the services they offer.

Ashoka Mithran

Retro Chennai from Asoka Mithran looks back at Chennai, in fact the Madras as it was known and existed. The column traces the city's lifescape at various points of time