So much has been talked, analyzed, argued and debated about Lonely Planet and its fiasco of screwing around with biased and subjective review of Chennai. All said and done, the fact remains that neither have they responded in a positive manner, nor is the general perception of “Chennai is toned down, small set of villages with nothing much to see or it has to offer” sort of opinion go away.
Some of the participants commenting mentioned about not having the campaign or the marketing spin that other cities have like for example Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai etc., So here is an idea. Why not do some marketing for Chennai? No, im not talking about huge billboards or events. I’m sure we do not have the resources or time for it.
Why cant we simply have T-Shirt campaigns? Something like “Stay Away: Karpagambal Filter Kaapi Addict” sort of slogans on T-Shirts? I’m sure if we can afford good designs, they will get copied and get spread far and wide around the city. Lets open it up to everyone. Lets walk wearing such stuff on Photowalk. Lets wear it at events like Madras Week, Sangamam and so on.
We can have mugs, Stickers on Bikes, Wallpapers on PC’s, Notebook Skins etc., These are things one can make in their spare time and easily get done with it with very little money.
What say? I don’t wanna say much. I would just like to open the Comment stream for opinions and ideas.
Priyadarshini Venkataraman says:
Its a wonderful idea. And I think its high time we feel wonderful about marina,mylapore and madras. I would also like to mention that the marundeeshwarar kovil in thiruvanmiyur is one of the oldest and dates back to the 7th century A.D. Some people cannot appreciate diamond in its raw form. So they call it old dingy and dirty.
23rd October 2009 at 7:51 pm
anjana menon / madras eye says:
are heritage walks conducted in Chennai? is the average ‘Madrasi’ aware of the wealth of architectural and cultural history that lies beneath the layers of modernization? the complacence with the public transport system or the way we’ve resigned to the autowallah fleecing us (as only superficial examples) probably extends itself into other facets of us being residents of the city. the lonely planet as an entity is not the first to talk about the seemingly sleepy metro.
it is true that Chennaiites are probably not as charged up as the Mumbaikar or Bengaloorean. but it is also true that jingoism isn’t required here. we’re just trying to spread the awareness of the richness and splendor that we have underplayed in Chennai with our complacence-of-sorts.
bottom line is… t-shirts sound good
perhaps we need a bunch of ppl to start off and take the initiative forward?
23rd October 2009 at 11:15 am
Sowmya says:
Hiya
I agree with you completely. Chennai has not been branded rightly which is why the perceptions are what they are. I have recently shifted base to Chennai (almost 2 years but still feels like y’day) and my understanding of Chennai has undergone a significant change.
Your ideas are good. Something like that can be done. What I suggest is -Lets have a Chennai week on Blogoshpere and each one of us can write one post everyday on a different aspect of Chennai. Maybe that will mobilize some new perspective about Chennai. What say???
23rd October 2009 at 10:41 am
Vidya says:
Stickers and Wallpapers is a good idea. Maybe you can add back-packs and umbrella’s to the list. Umbrellas were a hit in our work place when trying it as a brand-promotion. Sowmya’s idea of Chennai week is nice too.
But then, shud we take LP or the likes so seriously? Chennai is all ours to Enjoy:-)
23rd October 2009 at 9:35 am
maami says:
She’s attempting something on those lines and you could share more ideas perhaps?
http://giftsattheindiantwist.wordpress.com/
23rd October 2009 at 4:00 pm
maami says:
Also, each time I go to Kolkata I pick up these quiant pen and ink drawings and posters of Calcutta streetscapes by Samir Biswas, letter pads, coasters.
Bruce Peck has done interesting black and white drawings of Chennai.
So has R.K.Laxman of the crow, maamis ( ahem) shopping on Mylapore veedhis and stuff. These could make for calendars, coasters, gift articles, posters, T Shirts.
In Dec-Jan you can have stalls in the music/dance halls selling these city mementos.
Get photographs of the city converted into postcards/framed posters etc.
My 4 kaasu!
23rd October 2009 at 4:04 pm
Ramanuja Dasan says:
Not related to this post. Just went through your entire flickr page.(Went there via Coconut Chutney’s IPL pic. You put up a similar pic) You claim to be an atheist and at the same time are “proud” of your Iyengar heritage,culture,priests doing sandhi at Varadaraha Perumal temple, guys practicing at Ahobila Madham and find temples beautiful etc etc. Some mismatch somewhere ??
23rd October 2009 at 4:55 pm
Dilip Muralidaran says:
@Ramanuja: I appreciate the art portion of almost every religion. I do not however appreciate the religious dogma aspect of it. I like the customs of how the bride and the groom are honoured and how some people strive to keep up with the historical text/literature which otherwise would be lost for good. I do however cannot help but despise some of the more dogmatic positions they take on issues that progress the society & civilization.
Finally the images you specified are a few years old from the past when i was more of an agnostic compared to the atheist that im now. I still love art & culture of the brahmins, the aravaani’s, the muravaa’s & various other religious communities in india but i just dont agree with their religious positions on how the world works or as they think how it should work.
I’m not sure where i specified im proud of doing sandhi. I did it once, the day i had my upanayanam and them took off the poonal and trashed it.
23rd October 2009 at 7:33 am
Nandini Vishwanath says:
Bangalore is my home, but I love the idea
I prefer that it be limited to T-shirts to coffee mugs. Or, regional jingoism is on a high with nothing these days, and this could just add on.
I’d love something like: ‘There’s a maami in me’ for ages 25-30
23rd October 2009 at 7:04 pm
Labakku Das says:
Oh please stop praising the overrated(literally – the rates are skyhigh)Karpagambal Mess. Doesn’t it seem odd that a coffee in a “mess” costs 16bucks? Or a ghee dosai costs 40? (Higher for the AC section!). KA and you are giving unnecessary publicity to that place.
23rd October 2009 at 2:17 pm