Boat Club’s Gautham is a singer of songs and wearer of clothes
At first glance, everything about Gautham Jain is odd.
This regular Boat Club walker who has been leaving shoe imprints in the area’s four central roads since 2019, has Hindi music blaring from his phone. He sings along loudly with his arms outstretched, almost as if he is crooning the tune for you. The first time one encounters him, one thinks, “What the actual flying ****”
This man wears two shirts even during Chennai’s peak summer. While the base is monotone-colored, his following layer is usually a vibrant floral or sports jock jacket.
On his right hand, one can find six thick sweat bands — a mix of red, yellow, blue, 2 whites and green. “It is actually women’s hair band, you know. I repurpose it,” he says. His left hand wears a watch. “I am usually up to date with trends. I take time to pick my clothes, you know,” he says.
Gautham walks at an insane pace, waves hello to all his friends and ensures that he smiles — showing his fellow walkers that he is kind, not dangerous. He is present both in the morning and evening, hoping to meet his 10km daily target.
“Boat Club isn’t my usual spot. I prefer the beach. It is my thaai mannu,” says this Marvadi man who usually speaks Hindi. He moved to BC for the sake of variety, he adds.
Marina however, is where his fans are at. Tons of people come up to him to tell him that they love his vibe. His specialty though, (he insists that I mention it in the piece) is that he can whistle loudly.
He gives me a demo while I walk alongside him, not knowing how to react. It really is loud. All of boat club including Chandra and her mates, look back. “I have never refused anyone who has asked me to whistle. I never will until my last breath,” he says. Quite the commitment to this unusual skill, I think.
Gautham feels like a sunshine man. I say this after having strongly considered writing a fictitious piece about him being an energy vampire. This is way back. From about four months ago. If anything, he’s the opposite.
“People tell me that I’m the happiest person they’ve seen,” he says. He exudes three-fourth buckets of eccentric joy.
When asked why he listens to music without headphones, he says “Then what will you listen to?”
It’s true. What will I listen to?
I bid Gautham- pharmaceutical company owner, colourful walker and singer of songs- a hasty farewell. I have a timing to meet. “You have good stamina, you know,” he says.
I spot him speaking about his encounter with me in the subsequent rounds, to his friends. “She wanted to write about me”.
