Sun Jan 25 00:00:00 UTC 2026: # ‘No. 1 Vellala Street’ Unveiled: Celebrating the Life and Work of T.S. Sridhar/Marina/Bharaneedharan

The Story:
A book titled ‘No. 1 Vellala Street’, a recollection of the early life of multifaceted artist T.S. Sridhar, known by his aliases Bharaneedharan and Marina, was released on Saturday, January 24, 2026, in Chennai. The event doubled as a centenary celebration of Sridhar’s life and work. Dignitaries from the literary and art world lauded Sridhar’s contributions as a cartoonist, playwright, journalist, and writer under his various pseudonyms. The book launch highlighted the rediscovery of the manuscript by Sridhar’s brother, T.S. Gopalakrishnan, and its perceived quality being on par with classic coming-of-age stories.

Key Points:

  • The book ‘No. 1 Vellala Street’ is a memoir of cartoonist, journalist, and playwright T.S. Sridhar (aliases: Bharaneedharan, Marina)
  • The book launch coincided with Sridhar’s centenary celebration on January 24, 2026.
  • N. Ram, director of The Hindu Publishing Group, emphasized Sridhar’s exceptional talent in excelling in three distinct creative fields.
  • The book was salvaged and rediscovered by T.S. Gopalakrishnan, Sridhar’s brother.
  • T.S. Tirumurti, former Permanent Representative of India to the U.N., likened the book to Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer.
  • Two scenes from Marina’s famous ‘Thanikudithanam’ were enacted.

Key Takeaways:

  • The event celebrates the diverse talents of T.S. Sridhar/Marina/Bharaneedharan.
  • The rediscovery and publication of ‘No. 1 Vellala Street’ brings to light a previously unseen work by a notable Indian artist.
  • The comparison to Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer suggests the book holds significant literary merit and potential appeal to a wide audience.
  • The event underscores the importance of preserving and promoting Indian literary and artistic heritage.

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