Apparently, Woodlands drive-in is closing down! Its a place I’ve been going to since I was a kid. I’ve heard my uncles talk about it as a perfect place to take a date. But, I fell in love with that place when I was in college. I went there last Saturday for brunch. They’ve managed to keep up the magic of the dosa, sambhar and filter coffee for so many years now. Other than the fact that the dosas got greasier, I have almost no complaints about that place as ill maintained as it is.
When I was in college, we could get out in the afternoons in the final year. So, the perfect place to bunk class and go to was just a minute’s walk away. The dosa then was Rs. 17 and coffee was Rs. 8. We used dig out the change from our pockets (me and 3 other friends) and depending on the financial status of the day, the menu would be decided well before going there. On especially oppulent days, we used to have masala dosa and one odd times, bonda as well. Sitting inside and eating is probably not as enticing as the drive-in place. But I find that fun too. In spite of the heat beating down through the asbestos roof and poorly functioning fans, there’s an old world charm about it that will never die.
Now that the government has decided to reclaim the land, lets see what use they put it to.
Woodys will be missed, sorely!
17 responses so far ↓
Prashanth // April 12, 2008 at 1:16 pm |
Yes absolutely and then there was “Apple Bhajji” tooooooo. Miss you woodlands.
Arun Sundar // April 12, 2008 at 3:34 pm |
Hindu says government is planning to convert the area into a Botanical garden. That I’d say is more important for chennai than Bonda and Bhajji.
mayo // April 12, 2008 at 9:14 pm |
o really? it will be missed *sniff
ps: u gotta nice blog out here
rantravereflect // April 13, 2008 at 5:38 am |
tatz sooo sad, i mean it’s a landmark that we will miss..
wazz wyd chennai- suddenly, all coloful hoardinbgs removed!
wat the hell’s happening- the govt. has gone bonkers!
Vinni // April 13, 2008 at 8:14 am |
woodys has closed? Its been 5 years since i came to madras, but woodys was such a nice place! will be missed! had such good memories there!
Gayatri // April 13, 2008 at 8:24 am |
Prashanth > Apple Bajji?? never tried it.. guess its too late now
Arun > its not about the bajji and bonda, its about what the place stood for. Guess you won’t understand if you didn’t know the place.
Mayo > I know
and thanks 
rantravereflect > all the illegal hoardings are being removed and some of the legal ones are being brought down too in the process I guess..
vinni > yeah, hopefully it’ll turn into something good even if not as good as drive-in!
Arun Sundar // April 13, 2008 at 2:58 pm |
If somebody contradicts you, you dont have to assume that they dint know the place. I used to be a regular visitor to woodlands too, but tell me one good park/garden chennai has. Comparing to other int’l cities, Chennai lacks having enof parks/gardens. If woodlands drive-in is converted to a garden, I’d be gladly receptive to such a change.
Gayatri // April 14, 2008 at 9:03 am |
Arun > I’m not against the concept of having a garden/park in the heart of the city. I’m just sad a place very close to my heart is being torn down for it. FYI, there’s a botanical garden that’s been there forever right across the road from woodys. I’ve never seen anyone ever go there except for cinema shootings. So, as long as the government has a plan and is willing to execute it, we’re all happy. But we’ll have to wait and see what the reclaimed land shapes up to be. That’s the point I was trying to make.
And I wasn’t of course trying to assume that you didn’t know woodlands. I was only saying you probably wasn’t as attached to it as some of us who’ve grown up with a lot of memories that surround the place.
maxdavinci // April 14, 2008 at 3:08 pm |
oh! stop it you two….
I’ve only seen it in some old tam films, and went once during my only visit to the city. I loved the place, the trees and the food was gooooood! Dad tells me that they leased the place for 100 yrs, but I guess chopping trees for parking space was unacceptable…
My dad has many memories of the place for there used to be a multi-screen theatre there once..
Prashanth // April 14, 2008 at 11:54 pm |
Now its really bad… You come with Botanical Gardens. Our waiting lovers will swamp the place and you then come up with a protest for “Kalaachaara Seer Azhivu” – Sirappu paarvai!
Tejas // April 15, 2008 at 7:32 am |
Here’s the deal – plant your trees and have the crew sell dosas and bhajjis in the shade!
Varun // April 15, 2008 at 11:33 am |
Its one amazing place to be.. sad the govt wants it closed…can’t online forums ask people to sign petitions against this move?? I’d be happy to sign as many times as i could.
Gayatri // April 16, 2008 at 4:40 am |
Mayur > Really! I didn’t know they had screens there.. hmm.. interesting!
Prashanth > will keep our katchis occupied for a bit!
Tejas > Good plan
Varun > I’m not against the move to close the place but I’m jus hoping they’d put the place to good use after removing woodys.
The Pseudonym // April 16, 2008 at 1:35 pm |
Hey Woodlands has resumed Service. So No Worries.But they have to do something about their Quality. Kind of not good These days.Kaapi is still very good. And What about getting some nice Uniforms for people working there. What’s with the Shorts?
HEy Gayatri Am Tagging you.Cut and Paste this link
http://atthealtar.blogspot.com/2008/04/this-is-my-first-tag.html
and See what Monkey Business you gotta do…
Gayatri // April 16, 2008 at 2:58 pm |
Pseudonym > I don’t think drive-in has resumed its service. Only the restaurant is functional now
enRenRum-anbudan.BALA // May 22, 2008 at 1:29 pm |
Hi Gayatri,
I am a first time visitor to your blog. I am a thamiz blogger myself ! Your jottings on different topics are really enjoyable.
Just would like to point out a small error (in this post) though, “oppulent” should actually be “opulent” considering you did a posting on ‘Ingleesh Laanguaze’ at
http://rosemilkinabottle.blogspot.com/2008/05/ingleesh-laanguaze.html
Gayatri // May 22, 2008 at 1:44 pm |
point taken! Spell checking is not one of my talents. Maybe I should stop posting from my phone