Chennai’s musical junction plays the finest rendition of Anjali Anjali Pushpanjali
Ever since Chennai has begun playing music at its major junctions, odd incidents have been reported. Here is one such. Play this as you read.
At 6.00 p.m. on Sunday as the setting sun reflects on Express Avenue's shiny glass windows, the Royapettah mani kundu (clock tower) chimes.
It is around then when I first hear quite possibly the finest instrumental version of Anjali Anjali Pushpanjali.
Restless mall-goers are honking at me. Poovae un paadhathil pushpaanjali.
The traffic police man is standing before a line of colourful bikes that have been seized. It looks like an art installation. He's hunching and handing out fines but is slowly looking up. The horns are mild, steady and persistent. Ponnae un peyarukku ponnaanjali.
Wesley school is standing still. No students are going in but lots of men flittering out of campus in groups of three. Some anonymous meeting. Kannae un kuralukku geethaanjali.
Woodlands theatre has big cut outs of Danush and posters of Vaathi floating like flags. Here too, no one is going in. Only empty ground. Maybe everyone is at the show. Anjali anjali pushpaanjali, Anjali annnnjali pushpaanjali.
People from the petrol bunk have started coming out now and are asking, "What's happening to the girl? Why is she blocking the road? Some Instagram reels ah?". Azhagiyae unai polavae, adhisayam illaiyae.
Crowds are forming. Tea shop boys have arrived. They are asking if I have any fever or some such. Anjali perai chonnen, Avizhndhadhu mullaiyae.
Now it's time for the cute boys. They are looking at my Luna Blu chappals and talking to me because you can't meet a girl's eyes, can you? "Any problem, Shalini?" they ask. Kaarthigai maadham ponaal, kadum mazhai illaiyae.
Aunties are stepping of the auto and are touching my shoulder and pulling my bag. "Enna ma aachu? Hospital is nearby. Polama?" they ask. Kanmani neeyillaiyel, kavidhaigal illaiyae.
From Hotel Millath, the servers are supplying tea to the roadside watchers. Neeyenna nilavodu, pirandhavalaa.
"Loose pola. Call the police pa" they say. Poovukkul karuvaagi, valarndhavalaa.
Suddenly, everyone stands. Everyone is quite. Anjaliiiiii anjaliiiii ennuyir kadhaliiiiiiiiiiiii.
Poovae un paadhathil pushpaanjali
Ponnae un peyarukku ponnaanjali
Kannae un kuralukku geethaanjali
Kan kaanaa azhagirkku kavithaanjali.
Cassette stops. Cassette whirs.
Rang rang rangeela re.
