By R.Swathi
Every morning from 7.45 am to 8.15 am, Elliot’s beach comes to life with melodious music. At the far end of the promenade, near the walkway into the beach, a cheerful group of friends gather after their brisk walk to sing songs, creating a unique blend of music, movement, and camaraderie.
As one approaches, familiar tunes of M.G. Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan echo through the air. Walkers break into spontaneous dance and tap their feet to classics like ‘Madras Nalla Madras’ and ‘Pon Ondru Kanden’. “This is our dose of joy. Dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphin – we get them all naturally. It feels like we are living our second childhood,” says Dr.Rajendran, a fellow walker.
It all started when K.R.Chandrasekaran (a frequent contributor for Adyar Times), spotted P.Gnanadoss, a fellow walker and freelance singer, humming in a corner of the beach with his friends. Recognising a shared passion for music, he suggested that their group gather at the quieter corner of the beach and listen to Gnanadoss sing timeless classics. What began as an informal sing-along soon grew into a full-fledged morning ritual, with the group steadily expanding.
“All singing extempore – no rehearsal, no barriers between old and new songs, no genre limits,” points out K.R.Chandrasekaran and adds, “Because of this session, many casual walkers have become regular walkers. Some even travel from as far as Nungambakkam and OMR to join in. If there is any beach cleaning activity, we will get some young participants as well.”
The group members suggest songs through a WhatsApp group ‘Kadarkarai Kaalai Raagam’, and based on that, the songs for the next day are chosen. “Songs of T.M.S, P.B.S and S.P.B dominate the playlist,” says an excited Sankaranarayanan, a member.
Currently, most of the group members are men, with the average age of about 70, but they look forward to more participation by women and youngsters. “This is our therapy, our golden hour — and we want others to enjoy it too,” he adds.
“We have so many stories to tell about the joy that is spread around,” says Chandrasekaran as he reminisces about an expectant mother in full term, who joined their group for relaxing, “A few days back, the father of the new mother came bearing sweets and the good news of a safe and sweet delivery.” He also points to an elderly lady who is an MGR fan and has interacted with him on the set of ‘Padagotti’, “She comes here specifically to hear us sing MGR songs.”
Looking ahead, the group hopes to expand their sessions by incorporating laughter yoga and light aerobics to make their mornings even more energising. With music in their hearts and the sea breeze on their faces, this beachside band proves that wellness and happiness can be as simple as a song.
