Chennai Entertainment

Entertainment in Chennai

Chennai has something for everyone - bustling and energetic kids, trendy teenagers looking for a place to hang out, music lovers or those looking for a quiet evening out. The city has no dearth of entertainment avenues; movies, music festivals, beaches or restaurants and bowling alleys.

Chennai, often hailed as the cultural capital of South India, is a vibrant blend of tradition and modernity. Beyond its temples and classical music, the city offers a host of entertainment options ranging from cinema halls and live theaters to quirky cafes and bustling shopping malls. Whether you're a visitor or a resident, there's always something happening in Chennai.

Movie Theaters & Multiplexes : Popular Chains:
SPI Cinemas (Sathyam, Escape, Palazzo): Known for plush seating and quality sound, Sathyam Cinemas remains an iconic part of Chennai’s entertainment scene.
PVR Cinemas & INOX: Located in malls like Express Avenue, Phoenix Marketcity, and VR Chennai, these multiplexes screen Hollywood, Bollywood, and Kollywood blockbusters.
AGS Cinemas: A value-for-money option with multiple locations across the city.

Madras has always been obsessed with the celluloid. The Tamil film industry is located in Chennai and there are movie theatres galore to keep cinema buffs happy. Some of the older cinema houses are giving way to multiplex entertainment centers. You can take your pick from an array of movies at a multi-theatre complex. Sathyam Cinemas, INOX, Abhirami and PVR are some of the big names that dominate the multiplex scene. Plush seats, online ticket booking, yummy snacks and other attractions are yours to enjoy!

Live Music & Cultural Performances : Music & Dance:
Music Academy: The hub of Carnatic music, especially during the December Margazhi season.
Kalakshetra Foundation: Renowned for Bharatanatyam performances and dance festivals.
The music and dance festival season of Madras has been attracting art aficionados from far and wide. The season of Marghazi brings with it dance recitals, music concerts and kacheris. Chennai continues to promote and encourage the traditional music and dance tradition of the region.

Chennai has its fair share of entertainment and theme parks. The stretch on East Coast Road is dotted with many amusement parks - games, rides and gizmos that make for an interesting day out. You can even take some basic courses in windsurfing or indulge in boat rides. Water sports and windsurfing regatta are held at Muttukadu.

Gleaming lanes, ninepins, rolling balls, foot tapping music - Bowling centers are here to stay. Weekends see many Chennaites hang out in shopping malls such as Express Avenue, Forum Mall, Ampa Mall and Phoenix Mall. These shopping malls offer a plethora of retail therapy choices. Lifestyle, Shoppers Stop, Pantaloons, Big Bazaar are a few of the larger chains of multi-brand stores. If you are seeking international brands, Marks and Spencers, Zara, Benettons, Splash and others might be just up your street.

Annual Events & Festivals
Chennai Music Season (Dec-Jan): Classical music and dance performances across sabhas.
Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF): Screens award-winning films from across the globe.
Comic Con Chennai: A treat for pop culture fans.
Shopping & Food Festivals: Regularly held at malls and trade centers.

Parks & Urban Green Spaces
Independence Day Park: In August 2022, CM Stalin inaugurated a 2.1 km park along the Buckingham Canal—from Kasturba to Thiruvanmiyur MRTS—featuring a Miyawaki forest, children’s play zone, bicycle lane, open gym, badminton court, LED lighting, wall-art, fountain, Silambattam practice area, and an open-air theatre.

Valluvar Kottam is a monumental landmark in Chennai, built in honor of the renowned Tamil poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar, the author of the Thirukkural, one of Tamil literature's most significant works. Constructed in 1976, by the then Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi, the monument features a 39-meter-high chariot structure modeled after the temple chariots of Tamil Nadu and houses a life-size statue of Thiruvalluvar inside. The base of the monument showcases stone inscriptions of all 1,330 couplets from the Thirukkural, making it one of the largest literary monuments in Asia. Valluvar Kottam also includes a spacious auditorium, known for hosting cultural programs, exhibitions, and public gatherings. Located in the heart of Chennai near Nungambakkam, it stands as a symbol of Tamil culture, philosophy, and architectural craftsmanship. After renovation by M.K.Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, it has been lavishly adorned with stones sculpted in the same vein as the Chola Kingdom. A visit is surely worth your while.

Gone are the days when all you could find in the city was the staple south Indian diet. Today you can try out Mexican or Italian, Korean and even Mediterranean cuisine. Chennaites are spoilt for choice as far as restaurants go - Thai, Korean, Pizzas, North Indian, Regional specialties, Tangy Chaats, Sizzlers and more! From small eateries to five star hotels, the city doesn't leave you starved. Today innumerable coffee shops dot the city.

If you are looking for shopping opportunities, Madras city doesn't disappoint you. Whether it is the crowded streets of Ranganathan street for everything under the sun or the by-lanes of Pantheon Road for bargain materials, street shopping can be a truly exhausting experience. Whether you are looking for rich Kanjivaram silks or gold jewelry, cotton textiles or artifacts and books, there are innumerable shops dotted over the cityscape. The traditional weaves and fabrics of Tamil Nadu come in attractive colors and designs and have kept pace with fashion trends.

Our Chennai entertainment section promises to bring you the very latest on the goings on in the city. From shopping deals to food festivals, from new entertainment avenues to just launched eateries, you can be sure to look it up here!