If you were recently in Chennai and saw young girls running around like they were looking for lost treasure, it’s probably because they were hoping to bump into Lara Raj and Rhea Raj, who were in the city for the holidays. Staying at their grandparents’ place in Adyar, the pop star siblings took Vogue India to visit their favourite spots in their hometown while on their ‘sister date’.
First order of business: lunch at Peshawri by ITC Grand Chola, followed by a stop at Kapaleeswarar Temple, a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, which is close to the sisters’ home and hearts. “I haven’t looked at my phone in ten hours,” Lara said, soaking in the colours and chaos of the city. Rhea chimed in, “We have three cats at home. We’re a big cat family. So anytime we spot… Oh my god, a black cat,” she broke off, distracted. The older Raj sibling also recounted the last time she was in Chennai. “I did not look at the traffic; I opened the door, and a bus came and flung the door away. I just sat in the car, and the door flew away.” “Muttal. Muttal,” (‘stupid’ in Tamil), Lara teased playfully.
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In an earlier interview with Vogue India, the Katseye singer had said, “I want to see our culture not just recognised but celebrated.” And the sisters celebrate it in every way. In the video, Rhea shouted out to a Chennai-based designer: “I’m really excited about these outfits. We’re wearing pieces from a designer based here in Chennai, Ashwin Thiyagarajan.” The pair were draped in beautiful glasswork dupattas and wore bangles, bindis and matching Om necklaces that glinted in the afternoon sun.
They passed by Besant Nagar Beach, reminiscing about a tiny Ferris wheel they spotted from the car. “Oh my god, this little Ferris wheel,” Rhea squealed. “I used to go on that Ferris wheel all the time when I was a kid. We haven’t seen this in so long.” She then stopped to get her favourite South Indian coffee at Nellai Karupatti Coffee. “I became obsessed with karupatti on this trip.”
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Beyond exploring and experiencing the local culture, the sisters mostly spent time with family, eating their favourite food. “It’s been a lot of family time since we’ve been here. Like, that’s kind of it,” Lara said. “And food,” Rhea reminded her. Both sisters were especially excited about Kerala food, calling it their favourite after the Tamilian rasam.
Walking down the street from the Naga temple, they made a final pit stop at the stall of a fruit and vegetable vendor who has known them since they were young. Hauling their wares, the sisters ended their day in the swing room at home, trying some pavakka (bitter gourd), leafing through family albums and commenting on their mum’s blush blindness. “Indian makeup is really cool,” Lara declared before the sisters turned in for the night. A well-spent day in Chennai, if anybody’s looking for recommendations.
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