Sat Sep 13 19:08:31 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and rewrite of the provided text as a news article:

**Summary:**

The Hindu’s “Made of Chennai” food and music festival drew approximately 16,000 attendees on its first day at the YMCA Nandanam in Chennai on September 13, 2025. The event showcased a diverse range of Chennai’s culinary and musical talent, featuring food stalls offering various cuisines and musical performances spanning gaana, rap, folk, and film melodies. Artists like Gana Balachandar, Anthony Daasan, and Pradeep Kumar performed, with attendees enjoying the diverse lineup and discovering new artists. The event is sponsored by various partners and supported by local authorities.

**News Article:**

**Chennai Celebrates Culture at The Hindu’s “Made of Chennai” Festival**

**CHENNAI, September 14, 2025** – The Hindu’s “Made of Chennai” food and music festival kicked off to a vibrant start yesterday, September 13th, drawing an estimated 16,000 people to the YMCA Nandanam grounds. The festival, a celebration of Chennai’s rich cultural tapestry, transformed the venue into a bustling hub of food, music, and community spirit.

Attendees enjoyed a wide array of culinary delights from nearly 40 food stalls, offering everything from traditional biryani to modern international flavors like kombucha and Mexican wraps. The festival also showcased the diversity of Chennai’s music scene, with a lineup that spanned gaana, rap, folk, and cinema melodies.

The evening’s musical performances began with DJ Suman and Johnny Beats setting the atmosphere, followed by captivating sets from Gana Balachandar, Anthony in Party, and Pradeep Kumar. Gana Balachandar expressed his excitement about performing on the “Made of Chennai” stage, highlighting it as a significant milestone.

Anthony Daasan energized the crowd with a selection of 40 folk songs, praising the Chennai audience for their warm reception and the festival’s celebration of diverse musical genres.

For many, like college students Navya and Akshaya, the festival was a memorable experience. “We came to listen to Pradeep Kumar, but ended up discovering so much new music and food along the way,” they shared.

Pradeep Kumar closed out the first day with a set of 20 melodies, inviting the audience to sing and dance along.

The festival continues today with performances from Chennai Hip Hop Set – All For One Dance Crew, Paul Jacob and Funkybodhi Ft. Chinna Ponnu, Oorka, and Thaikkudam Bridge.

“The Hindu Made of Chennai” is presented by Casagrand and powered by SRM, with various other partners supporting the event. Local authorities, including the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, Greater Chennai Corporation, and Police departments, are also partnering to ensure the event’s smooth execution.

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