CHENNAI: Last year, when Avichi College unveiled Mint Street on its campus, it wasn’t just another college festival. It felt like a quiet throwback, an attempt to capture a version of a neighbourhood of Chennai that has resonated and played a major part in people’s lives over the years. This year, as Mint Street 2.0 - Reloaded returns on January 30 and 31, the idea is clearer, deeper, and more intentional.
For AVM K Shanmugam, the Secretary of Avichi College of Arts and Science and Managing Director of AVM Productions, the inspiration comes from a place rooted firmly in the city’s history. Mint Street, he says, was among the earliest areas where settlers made Chennai their home. “I wanted to recreate something original to
Chennai, something that has existed here for over 200 years,” he says.
That sense of cultural continuity is central to Mint Street 2.0. It is not about recreating a touristy version of the city, but about evoking a feeling of sounds, flavours, crowds, and everyday life. Food stalls, traditional flavours, and a bazaar-like rhythm form the heart of the event. “I want idlis, dosa and vada crowd,” Shanmugam says. “A crowd that is Chennai at heart.”
The idea of a cultural celebration without the pressure of competition traces back to his own student days. Growing up, Shanmugam was deeply influenced by Mardigras, IIT Madras cultural festival, known today as Saarang. “It had stayed with me,” he recalls. “It was cultural, fun and not competitive. That’s what I wanted Mint Street to feel like.”
Mint Street 2.0 builds on last year’s experience with a conscious process of reflection. Coming from a film family, Shanmugam follows a method passed down from his grandfather, reviewing every edition and noting what can be improved. “We decided we’ll start with one version and improve it every year,” he says. This year’s edition sees wider participation, with students from 12 colleges and five to six schools taking part.
While celebrities will make appearances, the focus remains deliberately away from star power. “I don’t want to make it a celebrity-driven event,” Shanmugam says. “This is meant to be a youth festival with music, dance, and cultural performances that are informal.”
Interestingly, one of the biggest challenges was staying true to Mint Street itself. Traders from the original Mint Street were hesitant to step away from their shops, wary of losing business even briefly. “They’re very clear about their targets,” he notes, admiring their discipline, even as it made replication difficult.
What Mint Street 2.0 ultimately seeks to do is bridge gaps between neighbourhoods, generations, and ideas of what a cultural festival can be. “I don’t want an international flavour,” Shanmugam says. “I want a Chennai flavour, where we celebrate every minute cause life is all about celebration.” And that, perhaps, is what Mint Street 2.0 promises: not spectacle, but a shared feeling, one that’s familiar, warm, and unmistakably Chennai.