“Chennai is a city; Madras is an emotion.” Few places capture that emotion as vividly as Mint Street, one of the oldest and longest streets in Chennai. Stretching from Park Town in the south to Washermanpet in the north, it’s more than just a road. It’s a living timeline.

A Street That Never Sleeps

Mint Street is alive at every hour. Walk here and you’ll see scooters, rickshaws, lorries, and even bullock carts moving side by side. Shops spill over with steelware, mirrors, brass vessels, rattan products, and even wigs. It’s noisy, chaotic, and yet, remarkably harmonious. Students studying urban culture often visit this street to see how tradition and commerce coexist so seamlessly. For parents, it’s a chance to show children what real city life looks like.

Layers of History

The roots of Mint Street go back to the 17th century, when Portuguese Jewish trader Jacques de Paivia built a cemetery here. By the 18th century, washers employed by the British East India Company settled down, giving it the early name “Washers’ Street.”

Communities shaped its identity. Telugu-speaking Komutti and Beri Chettis lived here, followed by Gujaratis, Saurashtrians, and Marwaris. Each group brought their own skills, cloth trading, weaving, or money lending. Walking down Mint Street today, you are not just seeing shops; you are witnessing centuries of migration, resilience, and enterprise.

From Coins to Carnatic Music

In 1841, the East India Company moved its coin-making unit here, giving the street its lasting name, Mint Street. But it wasn’t only coins that left their mark. The 1880s saw Chennai’s first ticketed Carnatic concert held here. Later, in 1889, the Hindu Theological School opened its doors. C. Saraswathi Bai, in 1909, performed her first Harikatha here, breaking barriers as the first woman to do so. Even Mahatma Gandhi walked this very street in 1896.

A Street of Stories on Screen

Cinema too found a home here. Historian Sriram notes that Raghupathy Venkaiah, considered the father of Tamil cinema, built Crown Theatre on Mint Street. Alongside Gaiety and Globe, it became a hub for early film culture. India’s first Tamil talkie, Kalidasa, premiered here at Murugan Theatre.

Why Mint Street Still Matters

For students, Mint Street is a living case study. For families, it’s a walk through heritage. For Chennai, it’s a reminder that every street holds stories, if only we pause to look.

For part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5

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