Chennai accommodates everyone and allows each of us to dream: Halitha Shameem

Chennai is like a canvas painted with every possible colour,” says director Halitha Shameem , who beautifully captured the many layers of the city in Sillu Karupatti . She adds, “I feel cities often carry certain colour codes — London is mostly red and black, Brighton has blue and white.

To me, Chennai has a spectrum of colours splashed over; it’s a city that’s truly colourful.” The filmmaker reflects on her love for Chennai’s rhythmic waves and what makes the city special.Growing up, how did you look at the city of Madras?Since my amma was an MLA, Chennai has always felt like my second home. My earliest memories are of the Secretariat, the Aavin booth nearby, and the statue of Kannagi – that part of Madras is what I grew up knowing. But what I loved the most as a child were the auto rickshaws I’d spot as soon as I landed in Madras, and of course, its melting butter biscuits.When you moved to Madras, what were you looking forward to?In my 11th grade, I moved to Chennai fully for my studies. I had always wanted to become a director, and I thought I could begin as a lyricist and slowly find my way into filmmaking. So, the moment I finished school, I started looking for such opportunities.‘Moving to Madras’ has always been a huge concept in Tamil cinema, and you’d have also seen a lot of people in the industry moving to Madras with big dreams...Back then, it felt like only after crossing the Kodambakkam bridge had you truly entered the world of cinema. Landmarks like the AVM globe carried that magic. Though studios once existed in Madurai, Salem, and What’s your favourite thing about Madras? Even if you’ve travelled across Tamil Nadu, Chennai is special.

It’s a city where you can easily connect with strangers. For instance, if you go to buy fish, the akka selling it might share her life stories with you.

You hear so many such tales from everyone you meet, and that warmth is unique to Chennai. elsewhere, Chennai eventually became the central hub. Now, of course, the industry is spreading out again. But even today, people come to Chennai with nothing more than a bag of dreams — surviving on just a cup of tea and a single meal a day — and still chasing what they love.When you moved to Madras, what would you say was most welcoming about the city?My first year was a little tough. But around that time, FM radio stations began. Listening to the RJs made the city more familiar and friendly. It helped me understand Madras better. I also enjoyed spending time at coffee shops and malls. Even just the random faces behind the counters in those places gave me warmth and comfort. And above all, the biggest welcome of all was the beach.Can you share an interesting incident that happened when you moved to Madras?There are many, but one I clearly remember is trying to buy a black ticket at Albert Theatre — and getting fooled not once, but twice! The grocery store owner nearby scolded me for being so gullible, and I felt quite bad.

But such moments shaped my connection with the city. Also, I’ve always admired the auto akkas here and how confidently they navigate the streets. I also love North Chennai — its tea, its delicious atho , and the chats at Godown Corner or Parry’s are my favourite.

The Marina Beach road is another favourite; I enjoy sitting at the Museum of Possibilities café and enjoying the beach view. I’d love to see more cafés and restaurants along the beach road – there’s nothing better than sipping something warm while watching the waves.What does Madras mean to you today?For me, Madras is a city of possibilities. Whatever you want to do, you can do it in this city. Chennai accommodates everyone and allows each of us to dream and offers an opportunity to succeed.Written By: Harshini SV