After 18 years of living in Gujarat and sometimes being asked “Aap Madras ke ho” I moved to Chennai last year, bracing myself to become a pucca “Madarasi”. I was sure I would yearn to hear Hindi being spoken and thought might have to refresh myself with a liberal dose of Hindi movies. What I have seen in a year now, in Chennai is anything but what I had imagined it to be.


My first encounter as a “Madrasi” was quite an eye opener to how pervasive Hindi had become. Mustering courage to speak like a native, I thought I would initiate my Tamil speaking sojourn in Chennai with an autowala. “Evvalo Vanguveenga?” I asked trying to sound natural. “Iruvathi Anju”…? I nonchalantly blurted ”Adallam Mudiyadu, mupattu anju than koduppen” ! “Aap kya hindi waale ho”?… pat came the reply from a very Madrasi looking fellow. My first “bulb” had blown the fuse!!

These days, Hindi has become a default language especially if you lived in Anna Nagar and wore a not so “Southi” look! Koyambedu vendors greet me with” Inga vanga … Aloo: 20 rupaiiye kilo, Bhindi: 30 rupaiiye kilo” Achha price me dega!!

My friends on the pre-text of making me feel at home, roll out a series of Hindi one liners. The occasional “Meri dost kaisi ho?”, “Namastey” and “Shukriya” make me feel like heaven. Others with less endowments start with “Kaho naa pyaar hai, Rang De Basanti, Dil Chahta Hai”… or whatever they might know. I am now their testing ground but am thrilled that Hindi shots are fired everyday and even if they miss, I don’t care. It is beginning to look like Hindi is here to stay!!

I have often wondered about how this metamorphosis was accomplished in less than a decade. Bollywood would certainly receive the maximum credit. I guess with the likes of Madhavan and Kangana Ranaut ,Tamil heros in Hindi movies and Hindi heroines in Tamil movies seem to be the norm. With most lyrics in film songs having to be incomprehensible anyway, I guess people don’t have to understand a Gulzar or a RD Burman to enjoy the song. IPL is probably the second biggest reason. Mr. Dhoni has become “our very own” and we hardly seem to mind calling the Rainas and the Sharmas “Chennai Super Kings”. Just try taking A.C Bus home today, and down the I.T Highway you will find it full of “Hindiwalas”. You might have to pinch yourself wondering if you have taken a luxury bus do sight-seeing in Delhi! Try saying “Qutub Minar teri(a)mma?” and do not be surprised if an angry Sardarji bursts saying “to phir Red Fort tera baap”!

Not only has the lingual landscape changed but its seamless acceptability seems to indicate our openness as a society. Best of cultures are known to be “potpourris” smelling fresh with new fragrances being added everyday. Chennai surely is setting an example of how the new generation does not need language to bond, just a friendly heart and an open mind. We “Madrasi Hindiwales” are unique ……Enna ….Namma Vazhi….Thani Vazhi…..!!!!
Chennai Vazhga!!!.