The 85 -year -old Kerala Hair Dresser in Pondi Bazaar faces a Sandeep between 60 and 70 heads every day (except Tuesday). But on 4 February, he needed privacy and an international popstar.

“I didn’t know who was Ed Sheeran. We called each other ‘Hi’ and started massage. I gave it to three other people, ”he says.

In the video of Ed Sheeran Headquarters on Instagram, the artist who is for his + – = × × tour (pronunciation of mathematics) in India can be seen jokingly, “this is abuse”.

“I usually do not use the force seen in the video but foreigners like pressure. He said for this, in fact. My daughter is reading the comments and the customers are also asking it. Who knew that he was equally popular, ”says Sandeep.

However, Sandeep is not a stranger for famous celebrities. His oldest, most consistent customer is industrialist and famous T. Nagar resident Nalli Kuppuswamy Cheti. “Other famous personalities have visited the years including Rajni. He used to choose a call on this telephone, “he remembers. Actor Shivkumar continued to get his haircut to this shop opened in 1939, he says.

On a regular day, however, Sandeep can be seen calling a cheerful “hello”, who looks at the leading customers for its ornate Burma teak chairs with old leather cushions. They exclude advice about the world tests and tribulations, tokens of appreciation and a nugget of mild Quality. I suspect that Sandeep has heard from these heads that he has taken life through parables to understand life. It is in these stories that he gets confidence to run a salon that continues to charge only ₹ 150 for a haircut.

“There was a time when Rajni [kanth] Speaking about three rabbits .. no turtle. Forget it, I don’t remember the animal. Anyway, these three were running on the top of a mountain. Two failed as they were distracted by random noise. The third made it because he was deaf, “he says, except for many of his lessons. “It is how one should be one – all the noise is deaf for noise but still knows about what is coming. This is how someone can succeed. That’s why the salon continues even today,” They say.

To subdue a mane

When Sandeep’s grandfather V. When Sanakni Nair reached the erstwhile Madras in 1929, he landed in the Pondi market as it was the place of the first employed commercial complex in the city. “Everyone who wanted to earn money, obviously came here,” they say. He split from the then famous Malabar Hair Dresser in 1939 to send Thrissur back home to set up his own shop. “In Kerala too, the family also did the same thing. However, we received only payments in the form of Barter – Vesture, Mundu and Rice. He needed to move, but also plans to return home. However, Chennai never let him go. People here are full of mercy. Dice karga,” He says.

Step by stepping into the salon, it seems that the journey of Halisan days back. Everything is the same except the hair color of the customers. Burma, complexly prepared with a flower carved in a wood, finds teak chairs. Rosewood shelves line the walls and glass painting panels alternately with mirrors. There is no annoying set list of English pop or uncomfortable cold of an air -conditioned parlor. With light we, the gentle smell of rose powder in the air, with light we. As a staff, they go and Sandeep says that although he has considered changes over time, customers have opposed it for a long time, sometimes refused to walk when there was a conversation of upgradation of a chair.

Old customers in Kerala Hair Dresser. , Photo Credit: Velkani Raj B

G Shankaran, a 96-year-old resident of T Nagar, says the salon was always clean and hygiene. “I remember a haircut for ₹ 2. Dada, father and son will always have a pleasant word to say and a smile, ”he says.

Sandeep says that these are only necessary conditions required to run a business. “It is necessary to maintain relationships. This is the reason why you will see me at the door greeting passers -by. First, they can be shocked. Next time, it is likely that they may walk to the cut. The second is to maintain cleanliness, ”he says. He is probably the one who inspires him to get into Ed Sheeran Gig, he says.

Sandeep says that although people have not always replied for “”Vanakam ‘ At the gate, it is not closed. “People wonder how I kept myself so many times. I tell them that I am also nervous. When I humiliate me, I am in a hurry to say ‘sorry’ but I usually get a kind of ‘good morning’ and ‘Vanakkam’‘In return. I enjoy it, ”he says.

Cut into a hair progress. , Photo Credit: Velkani Raj B

Although inside the salon, he is far more conservative. He does not sit inside the shop, does not believe in fancy treatment or color and does not love long, uncontrolled hair. This is why he prefers to provide simple and quick cuts, shave and oil massage. The idea of ​​bleaching and color was introduced to deal with demand. “Instead of keeping cucumber on the eyes, just eat it, no,” he asks.

He and his employees clean the campus twice a day – once during lunch hours and one more at night – so that the salon is ready for sharp at 8 am. They say that the time of Rush is usually morning and is in place of shopping till late night.

Time has changed now. The map of the T. Nagar that he drags by hand and then digitizes and hangs on his wall, the metro has changed considerably due to work and later redevelopment over the years.

Hand prepared T Nagar Map | Photo Credit: Velkani Raj B

Famous celebrities today have new stylists and the cuts include faded and molds. Does he feel? “I ask my customers if they want a stylish cut or if they want a beautiful cut. I can do later. They can do the east themselves. I want to be accessible to the common man, ”he says.

As soon as we finish, it closes with another metaphor. “My mother has asked me to walk when I just have the ability to spend; Take the bus when I can buy two-wheelers; And the car when I can buy a bike. I can buy a car today but I still go with the word. This is the one that will lead to permanent success. Good lessons to learn when you want the salon to go for many more years, don’t you think? ,

An old phone | Photo Credit: Velkani Raj B