Chennai: The Hindu has announced the fourth season of Made of Chennai, its annual celebration of the city, with the theme “Chennai is Chennaiing”. The month-long celebration will bring together an archival exhibition, cinema, runs, heritage experiences, food and music, along with online quizzes and reader engagement contests.
The new season celebrates Chennai’s evolving character through its people, culture, food, music, history, neighbourhoods and everyday experiences. The campaign’s visual identity brings together the city’s iconic landmarks, buses, streets, traditions, food and music, highlighting the many elements that make Chennai distinctive.
Speaking about the campaign, Sundar Kondur, Chief Revenue Officer, The Hindu Group, said, “Made of Chennai has always been our way of celebrating the deep and enduring relationship The Hindu shares with this city. Over the years, it has grown into a platform that brings together Chennaiites across generations through stories, experiences, memories and shared participation. This year, with ‘Chennai is Chennaiing’, we are celebrating a city that never stands still, a city that is evolving, moving forward and constantly finding new ways to surprise us, while remaining unmistakably Chennai. Through Season 4, we hope to create experiences that allow people to rediscover, participate in and celebrate the city they call home.”
The celebrations began with a special campaign launch communication on August 10, featuring an artistic long-form communication in The Hindu. The programme will continue through the month with a mix of on-ground experiences and digital engagement.
A series of Reader Engagement Contests will include a Trivia Quiz from August 11 and a Photo Quiz from August 17, inviting Chennaiites to test their knowledge of the city and participate in the celebrations.
The Archival Photo Exhibition, opening from August 14, will offer audiences a visual journey through Chennai’s past, featuring rare photographs from The Hindu’s 147-year archives and highlighting people, places and moments that have shaped the city.
The popular Moonlight Cinema will return on August 16, offering an open-air cinematic experience along Chennai’s coastline, bringing together cinema, community and the city’s waterfront setting.
On August 23, Made of Chennai will celebrate the city’s heritage at Royapuram Railway Station, Chennai’s first railway station. The Heritage Celebration will feature a heritage photo walk and discussions led by historians.
The same day, the Made of Chennai Run will bring participants together for 5K and 10K runs starting from Besant Nagar Beach and passing through some of the city’s iconic spaces. The programme will also feature a 1 km saree fun run/walk, combining fitness, tradition and Chennai’s cultural identity.
The celebrations will culminate in the Made of Chennai Food & Music Festival on August 29, featuring more than 40 food stalls and live performances by Chinmayi, Paal Dabba, Makka The Band and Anthony Daasan. The festival will bring together Chennai’s food, music and cultural communities for a city-wide celebration.
Alongside the physical events, The Hindu’s editorial teams will present stories, conversations and content centred on Chennai, while reader engagement initiatives will encourage audiences to actively participate in the celebration.
The Made of Chennai campaign will be amplified across The Hindu’s print, digital and social platforms, with partners, collaborators and communities extending the #MadeOfChennai conversation across the city.
The fourth season is presented by Casagrand, with AU Small Finance Bank as Co-Powered By partner. Associate partners include Andhra Pradesh Tourism, Joy Alukkas, Orchid The International School, Union Bank of India and LIC. Hindustan Group of Institutions is the Education Partner, Toyota the Mobility Partner, IndianOil the Energy Partner, Akshaykalpa Organic the Good Food Partner, Licious the Protein Partner, Murugan Idli the Food Partner, Bisleri the Hydration Partner, ACTC the Talent Management Partner, Big FM the Radio Partner and Kalaippuli S. Thanu presents V Creations, RKFI as Movie Partners.
