Pondicherry, Mahabalipuram & Chennai – Dawn to Dusk Stories

The southern coast of India carries its own rhythm — one of faith, trade, and timeless ritual. In Pondicherry, French colonial streets meet the pulse of Tamil life, a city where pastel walls and quiet courtyards echo histories of exchange and coexistence. In Mahabalipuram, stone temples carved by hand stand against the sea, guardians of stories that stretch back centuries.

In Chennai, life unfolds in layers. At Pondy Bazaar, the energy is relentless — traders calling out, fabrics spilling colour onto the streets, the marketplace alive with voices and movement. At dawn, the fish market stirs awake, the air thick with salt and barter, where every gesture tells of survival and livelihood. And by evening, the day closes at Marina Beach, where stalls glow in the twilight and fishermen haul their catch directly from the boats, weaving work and ritual into the horizon.

Through these frames, I sought to capture the contrasts of the region: the serenity of temples, the intimacy of street life, and the raw energy of coastal labour — moments that together form the living poetry of Tamil Nadu.