CHANDAMAMA BUILDING - Where you gone?

CHANDAMAMA BUILDING - Where you gone?
சந்தமாமா பில்டிங்ஸ் / நீ எங்கே சென்றாய்?

Once ‘Chandamama Building’ at Arcot Road (just opp. to Vadapalani Police Station and the signal) was a land mark in Kodambakkam area and to every one. It was a world famous building in Vadapalnai, without any doubt.

The said building was belonged to Vijaya Vauhini Stuido Owner & Producer late Sri. B. Nagi Reddi. When the dawn of every day there was a big queue at the entrance to get the handmade medicine for jaundice from the first lady of the building none other han the very simple Mrs. B. Nagi Reddi - Smt. Seshamma!! The patients started believing once they get the medicine from her golden hand, they will recover very soon and it was done really a magic.

The Prasad Process Pvt Ltd and the BNK Press Private Ltd, was also inside this big compound. The Prasad Process was one of the Asia's Biggest offset printing press and popular for priting huge size wall posters from Air India to Hindustan levers. Orders will pour in from various states including Mumbai!!

More than 20 magazines will roll out from the press every month - Chandamama in 14 languages (!!); Mangai (women’s magazine), Bommai (film magazine), Vijaya Chitra, Vanitha, (Telugu & Kannada) The Heritage, Junior Quest, Walt Disney Comics etc., All these magazine editorial & art departments were functioned in this compound.


Soviet Union magazines were printed here and popular in those days. Not only the wall posters and book and magazines, even the Calenders will roll out from the Prasad Process press regularly. The entire printing floor was always busy and the staff moving in ‘kakki’ uniforms here and there. Even the chief of the Prasad Process, Sri B. Venugopal.Reddi was also in Kaaki pant andshirt to show the closeness of the staff and management!! And the letter press, BNK Press Private Ltd was always buzy in printing invitations, cards, bulletins, handbills etc.


The binding and the transport sections were always work in full swing.

Postal department stationed their wing in the chandamama compound itself to dispatch the 20 magazines immediately after printing in hot to all over India!! Magazine distributors and Agents will stand in queue from early morning to collect the hot selling books – Chandamama, Mangai, Bommai etc etc from this compound.

This building staff were always get respect if they say, “I am from Chandamama Building” wherever they go.


Regi Simon, who worked for 15 years as Production coordinator remembers : “those days who worked in PRASAD PROCESS have taken abroad for placements like Dubai and Saudi Arabia very easily as the name was well know by other countires. BNK press is very famous for gold foil printing which used on bottles as labels (Whiskey, Brandy bottles). And also famous for dye cutting to make cartoon boxes of drinks those days” .

In the Chandamama building various latest model cars will stand in rows (with unique 4 digit nos but all mixed with 3 of 6 or 9 only) and drivers in queue!!

The big greenery lawn and a place to play for children was also liked by everyone. The two white bullocks statue was a lovely piece to see. Chandamama building’s hot coffee was very famous and delicious – they get good fresh & thick milk straight from their own Vijaya Gardens.

Nagi Reddi's sons and their family members were stayed there for long very happily. But most of the days, Sri Nagi Reddi stayed in a cool greenery place “Vijaya Gardens”. BNR families join together often and regular family celebrations and various parties is a routine affair.

Chandamama building was also famous for film shooting even though their Vijaya Vauhini studio and the Vijaya Gardens are there nearby!!. Lot of film personalites visit this compound often from MGR, Sivaji to Rajini and Kamal for their film shooting or to attend Nagi Reddi’s family parties or get-together or just as a friend.

After Nagi Reddi and Mrs. Nagi Reddi passes away, slowly the time changed. Now the entire compound was soled, printing units were closed, and the families were moved out. Now in that compound, we can see only new hi-tech buildings standing up and the local people are missing the world famous “CHANDMAMA BUILDING” very much.

When I shared my feelings of missing the Chandamama building with my well-wisher Sri B. Viswanatha Reddi, Nagi Reddi’s 3rd son recently he mentioned that, “I too miss those wonderful days we spent in our ‘Chandamama Buildings’ and they are so green in my memory ”. He further said, “I believe in Bhagavat Gita which says “that nothing is permanent and the position / the standing we hold in life is just an illusion”. It is true, true, true….

-Ramki (wadalaramki@yahoo.co.in Mobile : 9790684708)
The writer was worked in Chandamama & Dolton group for more than 13 years. He is currently Executive Coordinator, Scientific Committee of All India Ophthalmological Society. He is also a freelance writer and cartoonist.