Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: High: 33 ℃ | Low: 23 ℃ | Clear and sunny weather for the day.
🧐 Did you know? The Madras Presidency Radio Club made its first broadcast from Holloway’s Garden in Egmore on 31 July 1924. Facing financial issues, the club was rescued by the Madras Municipal Corporation in 1927.
📻 FM Radio and Chennai
Commemorating World Radio Day, FM Radio has played an important role in the city’s recent past.
New players enter: In 2003, Radio Mirchi burst onto the scene and made Sujatha Narayanan a household name. Then came RJ Balaji and his popular talk show Cross Talk. Since then, radio has become a mainstay for Chennaiites with several channels.
- In the new era of OTT and social media, radio has kept its place. Radio offers quick, honest, and relatable local communication. It’s an unobtrusive medium since people can listen to it wherever they are.
- The evolution has seen radio become more of an entertainment brand than what it previously represented – music. Hello FM and Suryan FM incorporate more film music, modern and classical, to cater to different tastes.
What does its future look like? Radio is expected to stand the test of time and the shifting media landscape. That responsibility is on the shoulders of radio professionals. For RJ Balaji, personalised content will be the future of radio.
🎤 A musical journey
Rama Priya Yegasivanathan’s musical journey began in Valparai and ended up with success in Chennai.
Who is she? Rama’s musical career started when she was an occasional singer at family parties to taking the stage at her college, the Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore. She then came to Chennai with a suitcase and a dream to make it big.
- The road wasn’t easy. The early days while working at Infosys were spent scouting venues and events during the weekends to perform. Performances at IIT’s Sarang followed. She then became a dubbing artist.
- Challenges came once she got married and was constrained from pursuing her passion. With her family’s support, she released ‘Vaa Nila’ in 2020, dedicated to her daughter. Her 2022 single ‘Thodarum’ would prove a turning point.
What’s next? She’s awaiting the release of her new song, Sugar Bomb, with music producer Mirun Pradhap.
🌆 Sprucing up the city
The CMDA will assess the status of social facilities and recommend improvements for the third master plan.
What’s it about? For those moving to the city from the northern and western suburbs, there aren’t many social spaces like parks, hostels, cafes, living spaces, etc. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has begun studying social spaces to include in its third master plan.
- The CMDA will look into existing social spaces and their connectivity to places like schools, colleges, hospitals, etc. They’ll be assessed to see if they’re accessible for those with disabilities and senior citizens, and if they’re safe for women and LGBTQIA+ people.
- The consultant will analyse the projected demand for these spaces using projected population growth from 2027-2046. There’ll also be a study of efficient land use.
Importance of social spaces: Social spaces and infrastructure like hospitals and schools are essential when people choose a neighbourhood. Areas should have enough primary and high schools, universities, and open areas for recreation.
💸 University’s fund shortage
The University of Madras is strapped for money as the IT department froze its hostel bank accounts.
What’s it about? University officials say they’re unable to operate and maintain the hostels due to increased scrutiny from the Income Tax department. The hostel bank accounts were frozen.
- The university has 7 hostels that accommodate about 2,000 students. It needs an average of ₹3 lakh per day to keep them operational.
- The money deposited in the hostel accounts isn’t the university’s. It’s money paid by the students as lodging expenses. Officials have deemed the department’s actions as unfair, and they may have to resort to loans.
Tax troubles: University officials met with the IT department and sought relief. Unless the state government intervenes, the university will have to pay ₹424 crore to the IT department.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you ever visited a farm?
- I have visited a farm.
- I’ve never visited a farm.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What music would you listen to on a long commute/journey?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- The sale of Bharat Rice has begun in the city by the NAFED.
- Auto and taxi drivers at the Kilambakkam bus terminus charge exorbitant fees to passengers.
- The Type 2024 event later this month invites designers to craft book covers.
- Phoenix Marketcity witnessed electric musical flash mob performances this weekend.
- Silai Zaki has taken over as Australia’s consul-general in Chennai.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I have bought second-hand items: 37.5%
- I’ve never bought second-hand items: 62.5% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s your favourite type/flavour of cake?
Shiva: “Plum”
Suchi: “Butterscotch”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!