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{{Short description|Dialect of Tamil}}
'''Madras bashai''' (also known as '''Madras Tamil''' and informally as '''Tanglish''') is a [[language]] spoken in the city of [[Chennai]], [[India]]. It is a loose polyglot blend of [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[English language|English]], with some loan words from [[Telugu]], [[Kannada]] and [[Hindi]]. The term literally means "Madras language" in Tamil.
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Contains special characters|Indic}}
 
'''Madras Bashai''' (Tamil: {{lang|ta|மெட்ராஸ் பாஷை}}, {{Literal translation|Madras Language}}) is a [[Variety (linguistics)|variety]] of the [[Tamil language]] spoken by native people in the city of [[Chennai]] (previously known as Madras) in the [[India]]n state of [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Smirnitskaya |first1=Anna |title=Diglossia and Tamil varieties in Chennai |date=March 2019 |doi=10.30842/alp2306573714317 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331772782_Diglossia_and_Tamil_varieties_in_Chennai |access-date=4 November 2022|doi-access=free }}</ref> In the past it was sometimes considered a [[pidgin]], as its vocabulary was heavily influenced by [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]], [[Indian English]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Malayalam]], and [[Burmese language|Burmese]]; it is not mutually intelligible with any of those except for Tamil, to a certain extent.
==Classification==
 
Since the advent of urbanization of the city especially since the [[Indian Independence Act 1947|Indian Independence]], due to large migrations into the city from different parts of [[Tamil Nadu]], the Madras Bashai variety has become closer to normalized standard spoken Tamil. Today, the transformed variety is mainly referred to as '''Chennai Tamil'''.
===What Madras bashai is not===
*Madras bashai is not a classified as a dialect of the [[Tamil language]] by [[Ethnologue]].
*Madras bashai is certainly not a dialect of the [[English language]]. It also cannot be classified as [[Engrish]] becuase it is not the result of an unsuccessful attempt to speak correct English, as no attempt is even made to conform to rules of English [[grammar]].
 
Madras Bashai evolved largely during the past three centuries. It grew in parallel with the growth of cosmopolitan Madras. After Madras Bashai became somewhat common in Madras, it became a source of [[satire]] for early [[Tamil cinema|Tamil]] films from the 1950s, in the form of [[pun]]s and [[double entendre]]s. Subsequent generations in [[Chennai]] identified with it and absorbed English constructs into the dialect, making it what it is today's Chennai Tamil.
===What Madras bashai is===
Madras bashai is an extreme instance of [[diglossia]] in the [[Tamil language]]. It may currently be an early stage of a [[pidgin]] language.
 
==Aspects Etymology ==
 
The word ''Madras Bashai'' is a compound term, where ''Madrās'' is derived from the classical name of the city ''Madrāsapaṭnam'', and ''bhāṣā'' is the [[Sanskrit]] word for "language", nativized to ''bāṣai''.
===Words and phrases===
 
== Evolution ==
The following are some common words and phrases in '''Madras bashai'''.
 
Madras Bashai evolved largely during the past three centuries. With its emergence as an important city in [[British India]] when they recovered it from the [[France|French]] and as the capital of [[Madras Presidency]], the contact with western world increased and a number of English words crept into the vocabulary. Many of these words were introduced by educated, middle-class Tamil migrants to the city who borrowed freely from English for their daily usage.<ref name="vijayakrishnan">{{cite book|title=Theoretical perspectives on word order in South Asian languages|chapter=Compound Typology in Tamil|pages=263–264|first=K. G.|last=Vijayakrishnan|publisher=Centre for Study of Language|ISBN=9781881526490 |year=1995}}</ref> Due to the presence of a considerable population of Telugu, Hindi–Urdu and many other language-speakers, especially, the [[Gujaratis]], [[Marwaris]] and some [[Muslim]] communities, some Hindustani and Telugu words, too, became a part of Madras Bashai. At the turn of the 20th century, though preferences have since shifted in favor of the Central and Madurai Tamil dialects, the English words introduced during the early 20th century have been retained.<ref name="vijayakrishnan" />
{| border=1 align=left
!Word
!Meaning
!Notes
|----
|''Allo''
|Hey, there...
|[[English]], Used to draw attention, from the English "Hello".
|----
|''Arai-Loosu''
|Half-crazy. See "Loosu"
|[[Tamil]] ''arai'' (half) + [[English]] ''loosu'' (loose, as in "not tight").
|----
|''Bejaar''
|Painful, troublesome.
|Probably [[Hindi]], roots uncertain.
|----
|''Beku''
|Imbecile.
|Etymology unknown.
|----
|''Bemani''
|That which makes one ashamed, that which has no shame.
|[[Hindi]] ''bemani'' (shameless).
|----
|''Buddi''
|Someone who wears glasses. Derogatory. Also see "Soda Buddi".
|Probably as a reference to the thickness of glass "Soda" bottles.
|----
|''Dhool''
|A superlative, as in "well done!" or "kick ass!".
|[[Hindi]] ''dhool'' (dust), referring to the dust cloud after a good ass-kicking.
|----
|''Dil''
|Chutzpah or Guts, as in "Do you have the guts to step outside and fight like a man?!"
|[[Hindi]] ''dil'' (heart).
|----
|''Duddu''
|Money.
|[[Kannada]] ''duddu'' (money).
|----
|''Figaru''
|Attractive woman.
|[[English language|English]] "figure", as in "She's got a good figure".
|----
|''Gaaji''
|Turn to play, often used to indicate one's turn to bat in cricket, as in "It's my gaaji now."
|Etymology unknown.
|----
|''Gaali''
|Finished, as in "He's finished!".
|[[Hindi language|Hindi]] ''khali'' meaning "empty" or "finished". Originally from Arabic.
|----
|''Gaana Paattu''
|A subgenre of Tamil film music.
|[[Hindi]] ''gaana'' (song) + [[Tamil language|Tamil]] ''paattu'' (song).
|----
|''Galata''
|1. Fracas, brouhaha. 2. Chaos. 3. Celebration
|Unknown, but possibly from [[Turkey]]. Galata was a [[suburb]] of [[Istanbul]] known for its [[nightlife]], or, more probably from the english "gala," as in, "to have a gala time,"
|----
|''Galiju''
|Dirty
|[[Hindi]], meaning dirty
|----
|''Gelichan''
|''He Won''
|[[Telugu]], ''gelupu'' meaning victory
|----
|''Goodhal''
|Trickery. Usually derogatory, as in "He resorted to trickery to win that business deal."
|Unknown.
|----
|''Jaga''
|To Escape from a situation. Used as "Jaga Vaanguradu"
|[[Hindi]] ''jagah'' (space, room), used in the sense of "getting room to escape".
|----
|''Joadreppai''
|Cobbler.
|Unknown, but possibly from [[Hindi]] ''joota'' (shoe) and [[English language|English]] "repair".
|----
|''Jollu''
|To ogle attractive women.
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]] ''jollu'' (saliva, salivation). Implies a longer duration than mere ''lookku vittufication''.
|----
|''Joot''
|To get started. Also to escape.
|Etymology unknown. Pronounced exactly like the English "jute".
|----
|''KD''
|Petty crook.
|[[English language|English]]. Old Chennai [[police]] abbreviation for "known defaulter".
|----
|''Kabodhi''
|Literally, a blind person. A common insult directed at careless drivers, as in "watch where you're going!". Often used in conjunction with "Kuruttu", as in "Kuruttu Kabodhi!".
|Etymology unknown. Possibly from [[Sanskrit]]
|----
|''Kaidae''
|Donkey.
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]] ''kazhudai'' (donkey).
|----
|''Kaiyendhi Bhavan''
|Roadside food vendor, equivalent to a hotdog stand in the US.
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]] for "hand-to-mouth restaurant". Not necessarily pejorative. Compare "Muniyandi Vilas".
|----
|''Kalakaradhu''
|To impress with one's performance.
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]], literally "to mix", "to stir".
|----
|''Kamnaati''
|Illegitimate offspring.
|Etymology unknown.
|----
|''Kasmaalam''
|Synonymous with "idiot".
|Possibly from [[Sanskrit]] ''kash malam'' (black hair). Comparing someone with [[hair]] is considered rude in Tamil culture.
|----
|''Kenai''
|Fool.
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]].
|----
|''Kozha adi sandai''
|Major catfight.
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]] for "water pump fight", fighting over who gets how much water and in what order.
|----
|''Kundhu''
|Sit down.
|Etymology unknown.
|----
|''Kuruttu''
|Blind. See "Kabodhi" for usage.
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]].
|----
|''Leevu''
|Holiday.
|From [[English language|English]] "leave", as in "leave of absence".
|----
|''Lollu''
|Anything unpleasant.
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]] for the sound made by a dog (analogous to "bow wow" in English). Probably a [[neologism]] from the Tamil movie ''Perusu'', starring [[Sathyaraj]] and [[Bhagyaraj]].
|----
|''Lollu party''
|Unpleasant person, especially one's boss at work.
|
|----
|''Lookku vudaradhu''
|To check someone out, especially if it's an attractive person.
|[[English language|English]] "look" and [[Tamil language|Tamil]] ''vudaradhu'' (to let off, to flash). Implies a much shorter duration than ''jollu vittufication'' or ''sight adichification''.
|----
|''Loosu''
|Crazy.
|From [[English language|English]] "loose". Also see "Arai-Loosu".
|----
|''Machi''
|Synonymous with "dude", used in a positive sense.
|Etymology unknown. Implies familiarity, cannot be used with strangers.
|----
|''Mama velai''
|[[Pimp]]ing, both literally and figuratively.
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]], literally "uncle job".
|----
|''Mary''
|Female version of ''Peter''.
|
|----
|''Military hotel''
|Restaurant that serves non-vegetarian food.
|The armed forces are thought to have fewer [[vegetarian]]s than the general population.
|----
|''Mineema''
|Female equivalent of "Muniyandi".
|Etymology unknown.
|----
|''Muniyandi''
|Economically backward male, implying a degree of unsophistication and uncouthness.
|Etymology unknown.
|----
|''Muniyandi Vilas''
|Low grade restaurant.
|Pejorative. Compare "Kaiyendhi Bhavan".
|----
|''Naina''
|A negative version of "dude", used to imply criticism..
|Probably a corrupted version of [[Telugu]] ''Nana'' (father). Can be used with strangers, especially when driving.
|----
|''Neat-a-po''
|Head straight on down
|From [[English language|English]] "neat" and [[Tamil language|Tamil]] ''po'' (to go), as in "Head straight on down this road..."
|----
|''OB adikaradhu''
|To waste time.
|Etymology unknown. OB is pronounced as the individual letters O and B.
|----
|''OC''
|Free, at no cost.
|Etymology unknown, maybe from "Zero Cost" (0 Cost).
|----
|''Outte''
|Same as "Gaali".
|[[English language|English]] "out", used in the context of [[cricket]] or other sports.
|----
|''Paal mararadhu''
|To switch camps, to betray a confidence.
|[[Tamil]], literally "to change milk"
|----
|''Peter''
|Male of [[Tamil people|Tamil origin]] who speaks [[English language|English]] in preference to the [[Tamil language]] even with other Tamil speakers, especially if his intention is to impress.
|Also ''Peter party''. Also used to label those who consider [[Tamil language|Tamil]] infra dig, or those who speak it with a fake Western accent.
|----
|''Phosphata''
|Same as "Sulphata".
|Pronounced "phosphate aa". Uncertain origins.
|----
|''Poramboku''
|Orphaned, abandoned.
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]. Used as a verbal abuse against bad drivers.
|----
|''Rowdy''
|Ruffian.
|Means the same in [[English language|English]], but used much more commonly in India.
|----
|''Rowdy-sheet''
|The rap sheet of a rowdy known to the police.
|
|----
|''Rowdy-sheeter''
|A rowdy who has a rowdy-sheet.
|
|----
|''Saavugraaki''
|Verbal abuse against bad drivers.
|Possibly from [[Tamil language|Tamil]] ''saavu'' (death) and ''graaki'' (buyer) giving "customer of Death".
|----
|''Sight adikaradhu''
|Same as "Jollu".
|[[English language|English]] ''sight'' and [[Tamil language|Tamil]] ''adikaradhu'' (to beat).
|----
|''Sokkakira''
|Looking good/beautiful.
|Probably [[Hindi]], roots uncertain.
|----
|''Sulphata''
|Cheap, strong liquor that may contain [[methanol]].
|Pronounced "sulphate aa". Uncertain origins. Asking someone if they've had sulphata implies that they are severely
uncoordinated.
|----
|''Voodu''
|House.
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]] ''veedu'' (house).
|''merusal''
|feared
|unknown etymology
 
Madras Bashai is generally considered a dialect of the [[working class]] like the [[Cockney English|Cockney dialect of English]]. Lyrics of ''[[gaana]]'' songs make heavy use of Madras Bashai.
|----
|''Vootle solltiya?''
|Used against extremely unsafe drivers.
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]] literally <nowiki>"Have you told [people] at home?".</nowiki> Connotes "Did you take leave of your loved ones when you left home?", and implies that the other person may not make it home alive.
|}
<br clear="all">
 
====Usage== Vocabulary ==
These words and phrases may of course be strung together. For instance:
 
A few words unique to Madras Bashai are given below; an Internet project, urban Tamil, has set out to collect urban Tamil vocabulary.
'''Naina! Vootle solltiya? Saavugraaki!'''. By calling the other person "naina" and asking him whether he has taken leave of his loved ones, the speaker indicates that his interlocutor is driving in a very unsafe manner. The speaker uses "saavugraaki" to emphasize the point, thus asserting his superior driving skills in the situation.
 
{| class="wikitable" width="75%" width="75%"
A large part of Madras bashai is devoted to cursing other drivers on the road.
moonjila yaan kaiya vekka yengapaathu otra beymani
 
==Grammar==
===Syntax===
The following examples illustrates the difference between the syntax of Madras bashai, English and Tamil:
{| border=1 align=left
![[English language|English]]
![[Tamil language|Tamil]]
!Madras bashai
![[Central Tamil dialect|Standard Tamil]]
|----
!Meaning
|Go fast! (Verb Adverb)
|- ---
|Vegamaa po! (Adverb Verb)
| Appāla (அப்பால)
|Speeda po! (EnglishNoun TamilVerb)
| ''piṟagŭ'' (பிறகு)
|----
| Afterwards<ref name="shanmugham">{{cite book|title=Tamil Dialectology|first=M. Shanmugham|last=Pillai|pages=34–36}}</ref>
|Go straight! (Verb Adverb)
|-
|Nera po! (Adverb Verb)
| ''Annā{{IAST|ṇḍ}}a'' (அந்நாண்ட)
|Seedhava po! (HindiAdverb TamilVerb)
| ''aṅkē'' (அங்கே)
| There
|-
| ''Gānḍŭ'' (காண்டு)
| ''kōpam'' (கோபம்)
| Anger
|-
| ''Daulattu'' (தௌலத்து)
| ''gettu'', ''kauravam'' (கெத்து, கௌரவம்)
| Respect, Honour
|-
| ''Gēttu'' (கேத்து)
| ''āṇavam'' (ஆணவம்)
| Swagger
|-
| ''Galaṭṭā'' (கலாட்டா)
| ''kalavaram'' (கலவரம்)
| Commotion
|-
| ''Iṭṭunu'' (இட்டுனு)
| '' kūṭṭiṭṭu''
(கூட்டிட்டு)
| Take (me along)
|-
| ''Mersal'' (மெர்சல்)
| ''accam'' (அச்சம்), ''bhayam'' (பயம்)
| Fear
|-
| ''Mokka''/''Mokkai'' (மொக்க/மொக்கை)
| ''Nanṟāga Illai'' (நன்றாக இல்லை)
| Lousy
|-
| ''Ḍabāykkiṟatŭ'' (டபாய்க்கிறது)
| ''ēmāṟṟugiṟadŭ'' (ஏமாற்றுகிறது)
| To fool
|-
| ''Kalāykkiṟatŭ'' (கலாய்க்கிறது)
| ''ki{{IAST|ṇḍ}}al ceivadŭ'' (கிண்டல் செய்வது)
| To tease
|-
| ''Gujjāllŭ'' (குஜ்ஜால்லு)
|''makiḻcci'' (மகிழ்ச்சி), ''santōṣam'' (சந்தோஷம்)
| Happiness
|-
|''Nikkarŭ'' (நிக்கரு)
| ''kāl caṭṭai'' (கால் சட்டை)
| Knickers
|-
| ''Sema'' (செம)
| ''aṟputam'' (அற்புதம்)
| Richness; colloquially, superb
|-
|''Sōkkā irukītŭ'' (ஸோக்கா இருகீது )
| ''Nanṟāga'' ''irukkiṟatŭ'' (நன்றாக இருக்கிறது)
| Looking sharp
|-
|}
<br clear="all">
===Verbifying and Nounification===
 
; Words borrowed from other languages
Many Tamil verbs are informally translated to English by taking the verb root and suffixing "ify" or "ification".
 
{| class="wikitable" width="75%" width="75%"
{| border=1 align=left
![[English language|English]]
![[Tamil language|Tamil]]
!Madras bashai
!Meaning
|----
! Source
|To read. ([[Infinitive]])
|- ---
|Padikkaradhu.
| ''Dubākkūr'' (டுபாக்கூர்)
|To padichify.
| Fraudster
|----
| From the English word ''dubash'' which, itself, is a derivative of the Hindusthani word "Do bhasha", usually, used to refer to interpreters and middlemen who worked for the [[British East India Company]]. As in the early 19th century, ''dubashes'' such as [[Avadhanum Paupiah]] were notorious for their corrupt practices, the term "dubash" gradually got to mean "fraud"<ref name="inspiration_thehindu">{{cite news|title=Inspiration from Madras|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=June 15, 2003|first=Randor|last=Guy|author-link=Randor Guy|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mag/2003/06/15/stories/2003061500340500.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031116055918/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mag/2003/06/15/stories/2003061500340500.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 16, 2003}}</ref>
|Reading. ([[Gerund]])
|- ---
|Paditthal.
| ''Nainā'' (நைனா)
|Padichification.
| Father
| From the Telugu word ''Nāyanāh''<ref name="shanmugham" />
|- ---
|''Apīṭṭŭ'' (அபீட்டு)
| To stop
| From the English word, "abate"
|- ---
| ''Aṭṭŭ'' (அட்டு)
| Worst
| From the Burmese term အတု meaning 'worst'
|- ---
| ''Bēmānī'' (பேமானி)
| Swearword; meaning shameless
| Derived from the Urdu word ''bē imān'' meaning "a dishonest person"
|- ---
| ''Gabbŭ'' (கப்பு)
| Stink
| Derived from colloquial [[Telugu language|Telugu]] Gobbu
|-
|''Gammŭ'' (கம்மு)
| Silent
| Derived from colloquial [[Telugu language|Telugu]] gommuni
|- ---
| ''Biskōttŭ'' (பிஸ்கோத்து)
| Sub-standard
| Derived from the English word "[[biscuit]]"
|- ---
| ''Ḍabbŭ'' (டப்பு)
| Money
| Derived from Telugu<ref name="shanmugham" />
|- ---
| ''Duḍḍŭ'' (துட்டு)
| Money
| Derived from Kannada
|- ---
| ''Galījŭ'' (கலீஜு)
| Yucky
| Derived from the Urdu word "Galeez", meaning dirty
|- ---
| ''Kasmālam'' (கஸ்மாலம்)
| Dirty
| Derived from the Sanskrit word "Kasmalam", meaning dirty, discardable
|- ---
| ''Bējāṟŭ'' (பேஜாறு)
| Problem
| Derived from Urdu, meaning displeased
|- ---
| ''Majā'' (மஜா)
| Excitement or fun
| Derived from the Urdu word "Maza" meaning "enthusiasm"
|- ---
| ''ōsi'' (ஓஸி)
| Free-of-cost
| From English. During the [[East India Company]] rule, letters posted on behalf of the East India Company did not bear postage stamps, but had the words 'On Company's Service' or 'OC' written on them. The word "O. C." gradually got to mean something which was offered free-of-cost<ref name="shanmugham" /><ref name="thehindu_20050826">{{cite news|title=Footprints of the Company|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/08/26/stories/2005082600210300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051207212142/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/08/26/stories/2005082600210300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 December 2005|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=28 August 2005}}</ref>
|- ---
|}
<br clear="all">
====Usage====
 
== In film ==
Verbifying and nounification are used in a jocular sense, only with people one is familiar with, and only if they speak Tamil. Using these forms in formal situations or with strangers is considered very juvenile, analogous to using [[emoticons]] in a high school essay. Usage of these forms also carries the risk of getting the speaker tagged as a ''Peter'' or a ''Mary'', even though genuine ''Peter''s and ''Mary''s don't use them.
Madras Bashai is used in many [[Tamil language|Tamil]] movies after the 1950s. Actors such, [[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]], [[J. P. Chandrababu]], [[Loose Mohan]], [[Thengai Srinivasan]], ''[[Surulirajan]]'',
 
[[Janagaraj]], [[Cho Ramaswamy]], [[Rajinikanth]], [[Kamal Haasan]], [[Vijay Sethupathi]], [[Dhanush]], [[Suriya]], [[Santhanam (actor)|Santhanam]], [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]], [[Attakathi Dinesh]], [[Joseph Vijay|Vijay]] and [[Ajith Kumar]] are well known for using it. Many screenwriters such as [[Crazy Mohan]] are known for frequently incorporating puns using the Madras Bashai into movie dialogue. Representative films are ''[[Maharasan]]'',
===Questions with binary answers===
''[[Bommalattam (1968 film)|Bommalattam]]'', ''[[Sattam En Kaiyil]]'', ''[[Thoongathey Thambi Thoongathey]]'', ''[[Michael Madana Kama Rajan]]'', ''[[Thirumalai]]'', ''[[Vasool Raja MBBS]]'', ''[[Attahasam]]'', ''[[Pammal K. Sambandam]]'', ''[[Chennai 600028]]'', ''[[Siva Manasula Sakthi]]'', ''[[Theeradha Vilaiyattu Pillai]]'', '' [[Saguni]]'', ''[[Attakathi]]'', ''[[Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru]]'', ''[[Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara]]'', ''[[I (2015 film)|I]]'', ''[[Madras (film)|Madras]]'', ''[[Kasethan Kadavulada]]'', ''[[Anegan]]'', ''[[Vedalam]]'', ''[[Maari (film)|Maari]]'', ''[[Maari 2]]'', ''[[Aaru]]'', ''[[Sketch (2018 film)|Sketch]]'', ''[[Vada Chennai]], [[Ghilli]],'' and ''[[Bigil]]'', [[Avvai Shanmugi]] , [[Dipavali]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Language-Found-in-Transition/2014/08/20/article2387721.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925083433/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Language-Found-in-Transition/2014/08/20/article2387721.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 September 2014|title=Language Found in Transition|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=2018-06-08}}</ref>
Questions with yes/no answers are framed by saying the statement whose truth is to be verified (using the [[participle]] if necessary) and then saying "aa" at the end with a rising inflexion like a question. If the statement already ends in an "aa" or other interfering vowel sound, then the questioning "aa" can be made "vaa" in the interest of [[euphonics]].
 
{| border=1 align=left
![[English language|English]]
!Madras bashai
|----
|Are you ready?
|Ready-aa?
|----
|Did you sleep? ("Have you slept?")
|Slept-aa?
|----
|Is it OK?
|OK-vaa?
|}
<br clear="all">
Some people tend to carry the "-aa" even into full English conversations from force of habit. Eg: "Did you finish it aa?"
<br clear="all">
 
== External links ==
==Cultural references==
 
* [http://slangmela.pbworks.com/w/page/9837645/Chennai%20Slang ''Chennai Slang''] - List of words
[[Madras bashai]] is used in a particular [[genre]] of music in [[Kollywood]] movies, called the ''gaana paattu''. The relation between ''gaana paattu'' and [[Madras bashai]] is analogous to that between [[hip hop]] and [[hip hop slang]]. The typical ''gaana paattu'' is characterized by rougher [[lyrics]] and a pulsing [[rhythm]], usually without a discernible [[melody]]. Many instances have a strong theme of [[poverty]] in their lyrics, and are eminently suited as accompanying music for the traditional [[dappaankuthu]] [[dance]], which is usually performed in economically backward urban areas in [[Chennai]]. ''Gaana paattu'' is also popular among city college students who use it to gain [[credibility|street cred]] among their peers, irrespective of their economic status.
 
===Examples= See also ==
* [[Madrassi]]
*''Pettai rap'' from ''[[Kadhalan]]'' ([[1994]])
* [[Tanglish]]
*''Laalaaku dol dappi ma'' from ''[[Sooriyan]]'' ([[1993]])
*''Annanagaru Andalu Ayanavaram Gopalu'' from ''Unknown'' (Unknown)
 
== Notes ==
{{India-stub}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Chennai]]
{{Dialects of Tamil}}
[[Category:Tamil dialects]]
[[Category:Culture of Chennai]]
[[Category:Indian slang]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madras_Bashai"