West Mambalam housed a number of journalists, junior artistes, and drama actors. Vikraman, editor of the fifty-year-old Tamil magazine Amudhasurabhi, belongs to West Mambalam. Other than him, playwright Komal Swaminathan, writer La. Sa. Ramamirutham, vocalists Radha and Jayalakshmi, actor Nagesh were all initially residents of West Mambalam. As soon as the name Nagesh is mentioned, we are reminded of cinema. Till date the only cinema theatre in West Mambalam is the National theatre. Right from the time the theatre was functioning and till now, you can find no major difference there. While approaching that place the cows used to lift their tails. The place in front of the National theatre must be the only place in Chennai where one can get natural manure in plenty. The entire place will be in such a mess.

Generally the prices of groceries will be much cheaper in West Mambalam. That too, certain shops will display on their boards, "Sudden fall in the prices of chillies! Tamarind prices decline! Toor dall costs fall!" and these slogans will kindle the enthusiasm of one and all. The vegetable market is also noteworthy. The enhancing desire for non-vegetarian food in Chennai has failed to make a significant mark in West Mambalam. There are two ancient and beautiful temples. One is the Kothandaramaswami temple and the other one is the Kasi Viswanathar temple. Adjacent to the Kothandaramaswami temple is the renowned higher secondary school run by the Ahobila Mutt. Students belonging to backward classes and even Muslim children study and learn Sanskrit here and they even win prizes. In those days a speech or a religious discourse was conducted daily in Kothandaramaswami temple. Today those who have a flair for such religious discourses watch B.R.Chopra's "Mahabharatham" television serial.

People getting together and maintaining the environment is the extra-ordinary feature of West Mambalam. The area, which was slushy and dirty with drainage water and synonymous with stench and elephantiasis, has turned out into a cleaner place. Elephantiasis has been thoroughly eradicated. The streets of West Mambalam are tidier than those of New Mambalam, Thiagaraya Nagar. All the streets have proper name-boards, that too free from posters being stuck on them. Old Mambalam, known as West Mambalam now, is one of the oldest residential areas of Chennai. Even though it has not transformed itself into a dazzling, wealthy area, it is an area where you can find people with greater discipline and self-control, in everyday life. It stands out as a model in the entire Chennai City.

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.