Editing Chennai (section)

=== Arts ===
[[File:Chennai National Art Gallery.jpg|thumb|[[National Art Gallery, Chennai|National Art Gallery]], one of the oldest art galleries in India]]

Chennai is a major centre for music, art and dance in India.<ref>{{cite book|title=Global Soundtracks: Worlds of Film Music|first=Mark|last=Slobin|isbn=978-0-81956-882-3|year=2008|page=140|publisher=Wesleyan University Press}}</ref> The city is called the Cultural Capital of South India.<ref>{{cite book|first=Rina|last=Kamath|title=Chennai|year=2000|publisher=Orient Blackswan|isbn=978-8-12501-378-5|page=66|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bw2vDg2fTrMC&pg=PA66|access-date=6 November 2015|archive-date=3 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603082657/https://books.google.com/books?id=bw2vDg2fTrMC&pg=PA66#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Madras Music Season]], initiated by [[Madras Music Academy]] in 1927, is celebrated every year during the month of December and features performances of traditional [[Carnatic music]] by artists from the city.<ref>{{cite book|last=Knight|first=Douglas M. Jr.|title=Balasaraswati: Her Art and Life|year=2010|publisher=Wesleyan University Press|isbn=978-0-81956-906-6|page=78|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q3EsA2NooW4C}}</ref> [[Madras University]] introduced a course of music, as part of the [[Bachelor of Arts]] curriculum in 1930.<ref>{{cite book|title=New Mansions for Music: Performance, Pedagogy and Criticism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hY6PQ_eK7IUC|first=Lakshmi|last=Subramanian|pages=121–122|isbn=978-8-18735-834-3|year=2008| publisher=Berghahn Books}}</ref> [[Gaana]], a combination of various folk music, is sung mainly in the working-class area of North Chennai.<ref>{{cite news|title=Torching prejudice through gumption and Gaana|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/music/101019/torching-prejudice-through-gumption-and-gaana.html|last=G|first=Ezekiel Majello|date=10 October 2019|newspaper=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|access-date=12 May 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206015436/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/music/101019/torching-prejudice-through-gumption-and-gaana.html|archive-date=6 December 2020}}</ref> [[Chennai Sangamam]], an art festival showcasing various arts of [[South India]] is held every year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chennaisangamam.com/|title=Chennai Sangamam 2011|publisher=The official website|access-date=28 December 2012|archive-date=30 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230093936/http://www.chennaisangamam.com/|url-status=usurped}}</ref> Chennai has been featured in [[UNESCO Creative Cities Network]] list since October 2017 for its old musical tradition.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chennai-now-part-of-creative-cities-network/article20008340.ece|title=Chennai is now part of UNESCO's 'creative cities network'|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=11 November 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112055136/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chennai-now-part-of-creative-cities-network/article20008340.ece|archive-date=12 January 2021}}</ref>

[[File:Madras_museum_theatre_in_October_2007.jpg|thumb|left|[[Government Museum, Chennai|Government Museum]], the second oldest museum in India]]

Chennai has a diverse theatre scene and is a prominent centre for [[Bharata Natyam]], a classical dance form that originated in Tamil Nadu and the oldest dance form in India.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i2vDlcIyVjUC&pg=PA262|title=World Musics in Context: A Comprehensive Survey of the World's Major Musical Cultures|publisher=Oxford University Press|first=Peter|last=Fletcher|isbn=978-0-19816-636-8|date=29 April 2004|access-date=3 July 2020|archive-date=3 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703055734/https://books.google.com/books?id=i2vDlcIyVjUC&pg=PA262|url-status=live}}</ref> Cultural centres in the city include [[Kalakshetra]] and Government Music College.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/chennai/kalakshetra.html|title=Kalakshetra|access-date=28 December 2022|publisher=Incredible India|archive-date=7 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007021514/https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/chennai/kalakshetra.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Chennai is also home to some choirs, who during the Christmas season stage various carol performances across the city in Tamil and English.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/of-choirs-and-carols-110122500009_1.html|title=Of choirs and carols|newspaper=[[Business Standard]]|year=2010|access-date=28 December 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210221239/https://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/of-choirs-and-carols-110122500009_1.html|archive-date=10 February 2021}}</ref>

Chennai is home to many museums, galleries, and other institutions that engage in arts research and are major tourist attractions.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/jaya-moots-a-global-arts-fest/articleshow/17633409.cms|title=CM moots a global arts fest in Chennai|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=16 December 2012|access-date=29 December 2022|archive-date=8 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208140112/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/jaya-moots-a-global-arts-fest/articleshow/17633409.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> Established in the early 18th century, the [[Government Museum, Chennai|Government Museum]] and the [[National Art Gallery, Chennai|National Art Gallery]] are amongst the oldest in the country.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/education/college-and-university/for-a-solid-grounding-in-arts/article2042038.ece|title=For a solid grounding in arts|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=3 April 2009|access-date=29 December 2022}}</ref> The museum inside the premises of Fort St. George maintains a collection of objects of the British era.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asi.nic.in/museum-fort-st-geroge-chennai/|title=Fort St. George museum|publisher=[[Archaeological Survey of India]]|access-date=12 October 2023|archive-date=1 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201063923/https://asi.nic.in/museum-fort-st-geroge-chennai/|url-status=live}}</ref> The museum is managed by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] and has in its possession, the first [[Flag of India]] hoisted at [[Fort St. George, India|Fort St George]] after the declaration of India's Independence on [[Independence Day (India)|15 August 1947]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Indian tri-colour hoisted at Chennai in 1947 to be on display|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/variety/Indian-tricolour-hoisted-at-Chennai-in-1947-to-be-on-display/article20567638.ece|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=4 July 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407182137/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/variety/Indian-tricolour-hoisted-at-Chennai-in-1947-to-be-on-display/article20567638.ece|archive-date=7 April 2021}}</ref>

Chennai is the base for [[Tamil cinema]], nicknamed Kollywood, alluding to the neighbourhood of [[Kodambakkam]] where several film studios are located.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hiro|first=Dilip|title=After Empire: The Birth of a Multipolar World|year=2010|isbn=978-1-56858-427-0|page=248|publisher=Public Affairs|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zlivv_pQWnAC&pg=PA248 }}</ref> The history of cinema in South India started in 1897 when a European exhibitor first screened a selection of silent short films at the [[Victoria Public Hall]] in the city.<ref>{{cite book|title=Folklore, public sphere, and civil society|page=116|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xsrgg1Mel8UC&q=Victoria+Public+Hall&pg=PA117|isbn=978-8-19014-814-6|last1=Muthukumaraswamy|first1=M. D|last2=Kaushal|first2=Molly|year=2004|publisher=NFSC|access-date=9 December 2023|archive-date=29 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629140959/https://books.google.com/books?id=Xsrgg1Mel8UC&q=Victoria+Public+Hall&pg=PA117#v=snippet&q=Victoria%20Public%20Hall&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Swamikannu Vincent]] purchased a [[Movie projector|film projector]] and erected tents for screening films which became popular in the early 20th century.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rajmohan|first=Joshi|title=Encyclopaedia of Journalism and Mass Communication: Media and mass communication|page=68|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_aoH81IN8SsC&q=Swamikannu+Vincent&pg=PA68|isbn=978-8-18205-366-3|year=2006|publisher=Isha Books|access-date=9 December 2023|archive-date=28 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328172925/https://books.google.com/books?id=_aoH81IN8SsC&q=Swamikannu+Vincent&pg=PA68|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Keechaka Vadham]], the first film in South India, was produced in the city and released in 1917.<ref>{{cite book| title=Tamil Cinema: The Cultural Politics of India's Other Film wenr Industry| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=65Aqrna4o5oC&q=Tamil+cinema| last=Velayutham| first=Selvaraj| chapter='India' in Tamil silent era cinema| year=2008| page=156| publisher=Routledge| isbn=978-0-415-39680-6| access-date=9 December 2023| archive-date=28 March 2024| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328172926/https://books.google.com/books?id=65Aqrna4o5oC&q=Tamil+cinema| url-status=live}}</ref> [[Gemini Studios|Gemini]] and [[Vijaya Studios|Vijaya Vauhini studios]], established in the 1940s, were amongst the largest and earliest in the country.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/madras375/the-true-tinsel-town/article6281515.ece|title=The true tinsel town|date=5 August 2014|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=25 June 2023|archive-date=9 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209040916/https://www.thehindu.com/madras375/the-true-tinsel-town/article6281515.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Chennai hosts many major film studios, including [[AVM Productions]], the oldest surviving studio in India.<ref>{{cite news|title=Heritage walk around old studios|location=Chennai|date=22 August 2011|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/heritage-walk-around-old-studios/article2381749.ece|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=28 December 2022|archive-date=8 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208134610/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/heritage-walk-around-old-studios/article2381749.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Veg Full Meals in Tamil Nadu.JPG|thumb|upright=0.78|A typical vegetarian meal]]