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You cant drive-in into Woodlands anymore....I feel a dull pang for the leafy place that wooed our hearts and gastric juices. Actually, more than the food, it was the ambience that drew the salesman, college-kid, uncle and humble celebrity.
I can bet on their delicious upuma that atleast 1o businesses would have kick-started everyday at their place. The ambience was so addictive. Over those steaming hot coffees, so many plans from starting creches to HR consultancies have wafted over.
Woodlands was the heart of the city in many ways....so many kalyana alliances have been worked out there, a friend of mine chose woodlands for its onion oothappam and and friendly green, when she had to meet her prospective father-in-law. Her choice of place alone bowled over the finicky physics professor.
I have always wanted to do a photo-feature of the place - its non-interfering waiters who let us spend an hour over a podi masala dosa, the uncles and aunts who would click their tongues, relishing poori kilangu, at the stella gals and loyola boys meeting there after college, the sales guys striking a mini-lunch deal, the journos sulking over coffee and looking for stories, the occasional celeb face driving in with a chauffeur who would get the order, the school kids recharging with juices between school and swimming lessons and so many more..........
It was probably never the same as it was in the 70s and 80s - the ultimate place for a light evening meal - but it was still very special for all of us who grew up on bribes of channa bhatura and ice-cream at woodlands if we had to spend an afternoon reading at the american library bank opposite.

P.S: the state horticulture society has reclaimed the lung of a land, but given the state's record in turning heritage buildings into steel and glass high-rises, I have no hopes of seeing a lal bag a la bangalore.