People of Madras
Ep. 01

Sundeep Nair is the third-generation owner of Kerala Hair Dressers, a legendary establishment located in the heart of Pondy Bazaar. An initial fascination with the electronics industry, and a couple of years dabbling in the same, Sundeep soon shifted gears and joined his father in the haircutting business.

“I wasn’t taught the trade; rather, I observed my father and picked up the nuances of the business along the way. I am following the same system of practice as my father, as he followed that of his father. No new major operational changes have been introduced.”

A stickler for tradition and beliefs, Sundeep believes in the power of the old. “The only thing I aspire for in the future is to maintain the antiquity of the shop that is loved and appreciated by the customers and well-wishers. But skilled craftspeople to maintain the woodwork are challenging to find, and the woodwork that exists in the shop today is difficult to emulate using present-day machines!”

Sundeep now wants to remove later additions to his shop, such as the false ceiling, and have the shop be true to its original character and fabric. After all, that’s what his grandfather began the shop with and found joy in. In his words, “This business keeps me fulfilled and brings me happiness.”