The Hindu’s history and legacy are as rich as those of Chennai, said Minister for School Education, Tamil Development, and Information and Publicity Rajmohan here on Friday (August 14, 2026).
While inaugurating The Hindu’s Made of Chennai Archival Photo Exhibit, ‘Madras on Stage’, at the publication’s office on Anna Salai, he said that The Hindu was a household name in Chennai.
Reminiscing about his college days, the Minister said he would never miss an opportunity to participate in cultural programmes, as well as oratory and elocution competitions. He recollected participating in a radio audition. Although he was selected, Mr. Rajmohan said he was very nervous. “My first boss [at the radio channel] was my biggest teacher, Mr. Navaneeth [L.V. Navaneeth, CEO, The Hindu Group],” he said.
L.V. Navaneeth, CEO, The Hindu Group, Anand, Regional Manager, AU Small Finance Bank, Santhosh B., Vice-president, Casagrand, Minister Rajmohan, N. Ram, Director, The Hindu Group Publishing Private Limited, N. Murali, The Hindu Group Publishing Private Limited, and Anand Ekambaram, vice-president, Casagrand at the event. | Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam
Mr. Rajmohan said he would not have stepped into the media world had it not been for Mr. Navaneeth and added that he had learnt a lot from him. “Mr. Navaneeth created an inclusive work environment, which he learnt here [The Hindu],” the Minister said.
Movement of culture
Thirupurasundari Sevvel, historian and curator of ‘Madras on Stage’, said The Hindu Archives is a huge repository. “Every year, we try to bring some attention to these rare images, articles, and photographs. What we really found interesting was the way culture moved to the city. It happened on the streets, neighbourhoods, and community spaces where people came together to create, experience, and share something,” she said.
“Over the years, artists and performers from different countries came to the city. They brought with them different sounds, ideas, and experiences, and they also became our own cultural story,” Ms. Sevvel said.
“We wanted to bring some of those moments to the foreground. And as we reach the end of the exhibition, there is a small glimpse of cinema because we can neither take cinema out of Chennai nor Chennai out of cinema. Because when we think of Madras, the Chennai Central [railway] station comes to mind. It is simply because that is how pop culture showed it to us,” she said, adding that the exhibition raises the possibility for Chennaiites to explore more, understand, ask questions about their city.
Santhosh B., vice-president, Casagrand, and Anand, regional manager, Chennai, AU Small Finance Bank, Chennai, spoke at the event.
N. Murali, Chairman, The Hindu Group Publishing Private Limited (THGPPL), Ramesh Rangarajan, Chairman of Kasturi and Sons Ltd., N. Ram, Director, THGPPL, Nirmala Lakshman, Director, THGPPL, Rohit Ramesh, Director, THGPPL, Suresh Nambath, Editor, The Hindu, and Mr. Navaneeth were among those present at the event.
Casagrand presents The Hindu Made of Chennai. It is co-powered by AU Small Finance Bank. Associate Partners: Andhra Pradesh Tourism, Joy Alukkas, Orchid The International School, Union Bank of India, LIC; Education Partner: Hindustan Group of Institutions; Mobility Partner: Toyota; Energy Partner: IndianOil; Good Food Partner: Akshaykalpa Organic; Protein Partner: Licious; Overseas Education Partner: StudyIn; Curation Partner: Nam Veedu, Nam Oor, Nam Kadhai; Food Partner: Murugan Idli; Radio Partner: Big FM.
