Tailor by the subway

CHENNAI: Like any other day I walked on the pavement near the New Secretariat complex, opposite Anna Statue, towards the subway to reach the other side. While almost there, the name ‘PM Gopal Rao, Gents Tailor’ caught my attention. At first I thought it was an advertisement for the tailor’s business but to my surprise I found a small tailor shop attached to the subway.  A few  inquires later and I was told by,  B Karnan Rao, the owner of the outlet, that the shop had been functioning for more than 40 years on the same premises. The man is all smiles, “My father Gopal Rao had a small shop next to the Bombay Halwa House, Anna Salai, in the 1950s. When the subway was built, this 250-300 sq ft place was sanctioned by the government and was rented out. We moved here in the 1970s.” After learning tailoring, Gopal used to visit the four big colleges in Madras. He says. “The Presidency College students used to stay at the Venkateswara Hostel in Triplicane. My father used to go there and find customers. He also got customers from the Medical College and Law College.” The tailor shop enjoys old customers who regularly stitch their pants and shirts here. From politicians to IAS officers, judges and cinema stars, the shop’s repertoire clientele is quite expansive. There are number of well known names on the list who still remain faithful customers, including DMK’s Durai Murugan, Congress’ M Krishnaswamy, father-in-law of Anbumani Ramadoss and Justice S Natarajan, retired Judge of the Supreme Court. Karnan recalls, “Durai Murugan has been our customer right from his law college days. Similarly, Krishnaswamy sir has been stitching clothes here right from the opening of our shop.” He adds, “Aruppukottai Gnanasekaran, who is a retired bank employee, has been coming to us for more than five decades now. In fact, whenever he comes to Chennai, he brings the clothes and I stitch and send them by parcel.”  Second generation in business, a 46-year-old Karnan of course makes it a point to mention his prices in passing, just in case this reporter proves to be a potential customer in the future. He reveals, “In 1980s, the stitching cost for a pant was between `50 and `60 and now we charge `250 for a pant and `150 for a shirt. We’re also good at stitching safari suits. “We were the ones who stitched marriage suit for MK Stalin’s wedding!” Now that is certainly a feat to boast of. Apparently, nothing inside the small enclosure has been modified since the store’s inception, except perhaps a new mirror on the wall. He regales me with more yesteryear tales. “My father told that Cho Ramaswamy and Nagesh used to stitch their clothes here. He also said that actor Jai Shankar was his regular customer. He was a student then and was about to join a job in Delhi.”With no desire to advertise or expand, this veteran in the business seems content exactly where he is. “I don’t think my son and daughter will join this business. I don’t know about the future,” he says.  (PM Gopal Rao Gents Tailor is at the subway, opposite Anna Statue, Anna Salai. For details, contact 25367519)