BPO boom spurs 'Afternoon Disco' revival in Chennai

by Anand Ramachandran, ending a long silence for no reason at all.

The rapid fire growth of the BPO sector in Chennai has had a pleasant and surprising side effect – the re-opening of several of the cities world-famous 'Afternoon Discos'.

Several Chennai partygoers and Deccan Chronicle photographers perform the enviable feat of dancing the night away - at 2.15 in the afternoon.

“Since most people at BPOs work night shifts, we see a great growth potential in what we call 'Afternoon Nightclubs'. The clubs will provide a place where young people can dance badly, act idiotic and be mildly disoriented by the sunlight when they leave.”, said Shaikh Mohsin, one of the city's leading afternoon disco experts. “But the crowd will come only by 3.30”, he added with a wink.

Several of the city's people are thrilled with the news. “Yiipppeeeeee!!!!!! I can't wait to go dancing immediately after lunch. Reminds me of the good old days at 'Palambas' and 'Socko'”, said Mansi Gandhi of Annanagar, going all misty-eyed.

Though many people mock the idea, it has its supporters. “I don't see why not. If we can have evening colleges and night bazaars, why can't there be afternoon nightclubs?” asked wildlife photographer S.U.Saravanakumar, not yet back from his holiday in the United States.

Not to be outdone, the city police department has swung into action, shifting the hours of 'untime' (a concept that most Chennaiites know and love) from the wee hours of the morning to between 5 and 7.30 p.m.. “Thank God. Now we can finish off our night duty and be back home by 8.30, in time to watch 'Selvi'. Yay!” cheered hundreds of cops.

Interestingly, the city's glitterati are extremely uncomfortable with the word 'Afternoon Disco'. “We need to call them something else. Maybe 'Noonclubs'? . . .” trailed off Kaveri Lalchand, who ought to know better.