CHENNAI: The man who ran the popular 'Jannal Bajji Kadai' (bajji shop) besides the Mylapore Kapaleeswarar temple, died of Covid-19 on Sunday, a Greater Chennai Corporation official said on Monday. Sivaramakrishnan, 53, known locally as Ramesh, was admitted to Government Royappetah Hospital on the night of July 4. He died at 3am on July 5, said a GCC official.
"As is the procedure, he was checked for Covid-19. The test result came positive," said the official. He was cremated at the Mylapore crematorium.
The shop was called what it was because people had to buy the snack through a window.
Kishore Narayanan, 32, who lives in Poland and studied at Vidya Mandir in Mylapore, told TOI that he had fond memories of the place. "The bajjis were nominally priced. My relatives used to live on East Mada Street. So I would frequent the shop. Ramesh mama was also a very chilled out person," he said.
Arvind Murali Mohan, 32, a resident of Sunnyvale, California, told TOI that during his school days, he frequented the shop thrice a week.
"I would take a parcel to eat at home as well. Ramesh uncle would be kind enough to give extra chutney as well. The food was always fresh and tasty," he said. Baskar Seshadri, 61, a resident of Mylapore and a social activist, said he had tasted the food there even a month ago in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Ramesh was an extremely hard-working person. The food price was very nominal. A plate of bajjis cost 30, while he would give three idlis for the same price. Hot potato bondas would cost 30 for two pieces. Other bigger branded restaurants in the neighbouring streets sell at double that price," Baskar said, indicating the reason for his popularity.
The shop would be open from 7:45am and stocks would invariably end before 10am. In the evening, the shop would be open for a couple of hours from 5:30pm.
"As is the procedure, he was checked for Covid-19. The test result came positive," said the official. He was cremated at the Mylapore crematorium.
The shop was called what it was because people had to buy the snack through a window.
Kishore Narayanan, 32, who lives in Poland and studied at Vidya Mandir in Mylapore, told TOI that he had fond memories of the place. "The bajjis were nominally priced. My relatives used to live on East Mada Street. So I would frequent the shop. Ramesh mama was also a very chilled out person," he said.
Arvind Murali Mohan, 32, a resident of Sunnyvale, California, told TOI that during his school days, he frequented the shop thrice a week.
"I would take a parcel to eat at home as well. Ramesh uncle would be kind enough to give extra chutney as well. The food was always fresh and tasty," he said. Baskar Seshadri, 61, a resident of Mylapore and a social activist, said he had tasted the food there even a month ago in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Ramesh was an extremely hard-working person. The food price was very nominal. A plate of bajjis cost 30, while he would give three idlis for the same price. Hot potato bondas would cost 30 for two pieces. Other bigger branded restaurants in the neighbouring streets sell at double that price," Baskar said, indicating the reason for his popularity.
The shop would be open from 7:45am and stocks would invariably end before 10am. In the evening, the shop would be open for a couple of hours from 5:30pm.
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