Parantharami Mani

       Besant  Nagar Elliotts Beach in 1958. Gemini  and Saroja Devi  in Kalyana Parisu  " Vadikkai  Maranthathu  Eno ".

     Elphinstone Bridge  constructed in 1842 in the  background  in the  song " Nan Katru Vange Ponen"   MGR with Kannadathu Paingili  Saroja Devi in movie  " Kalangarai  Vilakam". Year 1965.

        This is old church of Santhome which was demolished in 1893 and the present Cathedral was built and consecrated on 1st April 1896. An old granite sun dial which was there in the old church is now fixed near the southern compound wall. As per the book " Caste, Catholic Christianity and the Language of Conversion"  by Jeyaseela Stephen the old church was built on the Sepulchre of St. Thomas in the year 1536 by the Portuguese.  By the year 1559 there were around 2000 Native converts  to Christianity in Santhome. In view of the increasing congregation the Diocese of Mylapore  was erected by  Pope Paul V on 9th January 1606 by a Papal Bull. The first Bishop was Augustinian Fria Dom Sebastian Pedro. The Bishops house was next to the church which was raised to the status of Cathedral. The tomb of St. Thomas was opened on 29th April 1729 to distribute earth to the pilgrims during which time  Coja Petrus Uscan the Armenian Merchant was ...

        Library block  of Madras  University with Senate House in the  background in this  picture around 1940.  View from  Cooum river on the  North side. Pic: Madras  Tercentenary  Volume

A grand finale to the Vasantha  Utsavam of Mylapore  Kapaliswar Temple. Lord Singaravelar with his consorts Valli Deivanai  in Poo Pallakku  Vahanam going around Mada  Veethis.

The Elphinstone Bridge Madras  constructed during the Governorship of Lord Elphinstone in 1842. He was Governor of Madras during 1837-42  Before that he was Lord in waiting to King William IV. He was responsible for educational advancement of Madras Presidency.  The school he started in 1841 in Egmore later developed abd became Presidency College.  This was the  second bridge across Adyar the first one being Marmelong Bridge  constructed in 1726. Before the bridge was constructed the crossing of the river used to be made in Native parisals. The north side of the river was home to many colonial bungalows.  The bridge was in use for 131 years before the new bridge was constructed in 1973. Photo  :The Hindu , Madras city Inscriptions

The Corsican Connection.  D'Angeli's Hotel Mount  Road.   Giacomo d' Angeli was a Corsican confectioner who arrived in Madras in 1880.  He set up his business  near the Mount Road / Blackers road junction as a confectioner and mess contractor.  He was catering to the  Governors of Madra at one time . He started his D'Angeli hotel in 1906. Within two years the hotel developed into a modern hotel with garden dining  and handsome looks.It had electric lifts,  hot water tap, electric fans, tiled floor,  cold storage. The  menu included French and Italian cuisine. By late 1920s it changed hands to become Hotel Bossotto. In later periods it became a Bata showroom. D' Angeli  also flew the first airplane in Madras. See the beautiful sun shades for protecting from  early morning Sun from East.