Five photographers capture the many faces of Chennai through their favourite frames

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Against the backdrop of World Photography Day on August 19, five photographers look back at their favourite frames of Chennai, and the memories that drew them to capture them

Like any other metropolitan city, Chennai is always on the move, chasing dreams and livelihoods. But in every nook and corner of the city — between the bricks of its colonial buildings and the folds of its shorelines — lie thousands of stories, told and untold. The city reveals this side to those who pause and observe it.

“There is nothing like Chennai in the early morning light. The best time to photograph architectural buildings is between 5.30am and 7am, especially when the sky is cloudy,” says Kiran Sa.

In his photograph, the Senate House of the University of Madras stands with its ornate arches and domes in the soft morning light, bringing alive the colonial history the city carries.

As a child, such fragments of history fascinated him, he says. During the early days of his career, Kiran says that these structures turned into informal classrooms as he practised capturing the photographs of these buildings to understand light, exposure and framing.

“Chennai is rich in such beautiful architectural buildings, designed in a way that allows natural light to fall beautifully on them,” he says, revealing that photographing the historical Chepauk Palace remains a dream.

A woman catching crawn from Kosasthalaiyar River | Photo Credit: Noor Nisha

Beyond the historical past of the city, photographer Noor Nisha’s lens follows the lesser documented corners in the northern region of Chennai. Her favourite photograph, taken from Kosasthalaiyar River near the Ennore Creek estuary, captures a woman from the Irular tribal community catching prawns for a livelihood.

“The photo also portrays the struggles of women. Catching prawns is their only means of livelihood. Although the river is polluted, they have no option but to depend on it,” she says.

As a woman from North Chennai, she feels deeply connected with the region and subject of the photograph. For her, photography is also a way of challenging the stereotypes attached to the region. “North Chennai is often portrayed in a negative light. I want to show the other side of it, beyond the stereotypes,” she says.

As much as Chennai is shaped by its struggles, it is also a city defined by the unity and resilience of its people. One such moment was captured by photographer Kabilan AP in 2012 at Elliots Beach when Cyclone Nilam drove the oil tanker MT Pratibha aground.

“We all stood helpless, but suddenly, a cheer erupted. A fisherman’s boat was speeding into the waters. When they finally managed to rescue the drowning crew, the whole crowd went wild. The fishing boat went back twice, battling strong waves and winds. However, they managed to rescue most of the crew,” he says, recalling the story behind his photograph.

Expressing his strong dream of documenting the lives of people in the city, he says, “The heart of Chennai is the people in it.”