25 Places we love: Tollygunge club | Two generations, one green oasis that’s Tolly

For Sreenanda Shankar, ‘Tolly’ is a sensory map of her childhood; where the Universal Magic of the Shankar legacy met the rituals of family life. For filmmaker Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury (Tony), it is a sacred, ritualistic retreat. A place where the noise of a high-pressure film career in Mumbai dissolves into the mati of Kolkata. While Sreenanda represents the second-generation legacy, viewing the club through the lens of inherited memory and family togetherness, Tony is the modern creative member who has adopted the space as an essential partner in his artistic process.

Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury: The sacred silence

Once Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury (Tony) became a member of Tolly, it turned into his sacred space. “I live between Mumbai and Tolly,” jokes the award-winning filmmaker, adding he’s far more likely to be found doing absolutely nothing at the Club’s storied Gravel than chasing the city’s usual circuits. For him, the club is deeply personal; it’s where his daughter’s wedding rituals were held, weaving his family’s most precious milestones into the club’s history. Also a place where he nurtures his creative space. As a jungle lover, Tolly is the closest to the wilderness in the heart of the city he can get. On his many walks, he encounters wild, raw moments—mating snakes, rare birds, and jackals. He recalls instances of lightning crashing a whisper away, a reminder of nature’s untamed power. “This place makes you calm, introspect. You sit, you think or you don’t think. That nothingness is important in my life. Away from here, I am the man on Insta... here, nobody knows me.” Around him, the club hums with its many parallel worlds. “At every table you see different kinds of groups — somebody talking about films, somebody about business, somebody about sports. But I am not a club person. I come here for the stillness and nature. The world around Tolly has changed so much, so this has become even more special.”

For a space designed for socialising, Tony has carved out something far more private: “Every day, me and Bickram (Ghosh), we sit there. Unspoken communication. I do my film workshops here with my actors. There is an undeniable energy here.”

Sreenanda Shankar: The heritage of home

The Tollygunge Club or Tolly, as we fondly call it, has always felt like home. I have been going there since my earliest days, first with my grandmother Amala Shankar for meals, and later with my father Ananda Shankar for swimming, tennis, and horse riding. Over time, it has become an inseparable part of my life. Sunday winter breakfasts were a ritual; the crisp morning air and the soft sun filtering through the trees made it feel so special. Those mornings were never just about the food, but togetherness and memories that still feel special.

Ma (Tanusree Shankar), too, carries a lifetime of memories here — of quiet evenings with Baba, when they would come for unhurried dinners or simply sit over tea. Today, as a member myself, I find a deep sense of comfort there. Whether I’m spending time with friends or taking a quiet break, the club’s greenery never fails to put me at ease. My mother and I share a small ritual; whenever we need a break from the hustle, we head there for breakfast. There have been so many evenings when we simply sit at the South Verandah, sipping tea and gazing out at the endless stretch of lush green. It’s a sight that soothes both the eyes and the soul. If anyone asks me what I like most, I’d say it feels like stepping into a different world. Dating back to 1895, its history gives every corner a character that’s hard to find elsewhere. Tolly is where I can slow down, reconnect, and feel completely at ease. It is, quite simply, an emotion.

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