And so it happened. 62 of us took of us walked around Gemini aka Anna Flyover yesterday to trace its heritage. It was a large gathering, large enough to make the security guards at the US Consulate think that we were a threat! We therefore decided to move on at rapid speed.
The rest of the walk involved nearby Cathedral Road and took place at a more sedentary pace. We covered the flyover, the equestrian statues, the US Consulate, Semmozhi Poonga (where we should have stood for a minute to mourn the passing of Woodlands Drive In), Rane Madras, the Agri Horticultural Society Gardens, St George’s Cathedral, the US Consulate (yes, we did), Sundaram Avenue and then finally The Park where we looked at the property’s long history – stretching back to 1822!
Lots of stories of Gemini Studios and SS Vasan were part of the walk. And the evergreen one about Mrs Napier and Mr Elliot. The Park, which commemorates the Gemini heritage in decor, had a lovely spread and many thanks to the team there for all the hospitality.
Pics courtesy: Sreemathy Mohan, Venkatesh Krishnamoorthy
Research assistance: Karthik A Bhatt
also read – Beerkaran Street
It must have been wonderful. I am so mad at myself for having missed it. Another time, another chance, may be?
Very evocative Sriram, I remember going to Woodlands when I first came to Madras in 1972!
As a kid used to go to the woodlands drive and still have a vauge memory picturing parking they had the arrangement of tables, many times I used to feel no one remember them and speaks of it, may be i am wrong. thanks for making a comment