Ramesh, a Chennai native, had grown up listening to his grandmother's stories about the city's rich heritage. He wanted to preserve these stories and share them with the world. The index, he explained, was his attempt to weave together the threads of Chennai's history, cuisine, and culture.
The more she explored the index, the more Leela realized that Madras Cafe was more than just a restaurant - it was a repository of Chennai's history and culture. She decided to meet Ramesh and learn more about his passion project.
As Leela sipped on a cup of filter coffee, Ramesh took her on a journey through the index. They explored the entries on "The Prince of Arcot - A Royal Recipe for Biryani" and "The Thamaraikulam Sisters - Pioneers of Chennai's Music Scene." With each story, Leela felt like she was uncovering a piece of Chennai's soul.
As Leela delved deeper into the index, she found entries like "Thiru.V.K. Chidambaram Pillai - The Freedom Fighter Who Loved Idlis" and "The Story of M.S. Subbulakshmi - A Songbird's Favorite Filter Coffee." Each entry was a window into the lives of Chennai's iconic figures, and Leela was captivated by the stories.