With no midnight bashes and live shows, Chennaiites gear up for low-key New Year celebrations

When the announcement regarding the beach ban in the state on New Year’s Eve and January 1 came by a few days ago, people still made other plans to ensure they rang in 2022 in style. They had made plans to host house parties and private gatherings in resorts/farmhouses, or at least let their hair down at a pub in the city with their close ones. But now, all those plans seem to have come to a standstill with the latest government order, which has banned dance and music shows, and other entertainment events at hotels, resorts and other commercial places, and even stopping private parties. Here’s what people have to say about the move...

Events are getting cancelledA few venues have started announcing the cancellation of events. Some are in discussion with the officials and we’ll get to know the status of all events soon. The word on the street is, most hotels have started to cancel the parties.
— Lalyth Solanki, nightlife influencer
This was expected, say ChennaiitesAccording to an event organiser in the city, the hospitality industry had already decided to keep it a low-key affair as soon as the Omicron scare started. On condition of anonymity, this event organiser says, “Big hotels were already apprehensive about the situation, and at the beginning of December itself, they had decided not to organise anything extravagant for the New Year. So, flying in a popular DJ or any foreign act was already out of the question. Only restobars planned some special nights with regular DJs. Those events also stand cancelled now. Also, when the city pubs/restobars did a market research, they realised that many of their patrons would be planning private farmhouse parties this time.” She adds, “Among friends, we were discussing about a private party we had earlier planned. Now, it will be difficult to get back home with restrictions in place.” Anand Nair, general manager at a star hotel in the city, says they had plan A and plan B in place. “However, even in our initial plan, we had decided that we would have entertainment events in each of our restaurants instead of one big event at the banquet hall. With so much uncertainty, we also made a backup plan. So, now we have decided not to have entertainment events. And therefore, the nightclub inside the hotel will be shut and the restaurants alone will remain open till 11pm.”

Relaxed dine-in at restobars and restaurantsShibu Raj, co-founder of a city restobar says, “Ours is a restobar and there won’t be any extensive clubbing anyway. So, except for the fact that we have to close at 11pm, which otherwise would be slightly extended for the New Year, everything else remains the same. Some people like to celebrate at the turn of the New Year. That might be missing. And following the government order, there will be no live performance as well. It will be a dine-and-drink concept rather than a drink-and-dine concept.” Even on ECR, which is one of the most-happening places in the city during the New Year, simple dine-in at restaurants over extravagant parties are expected. “All three restaurants at the resort will be open and there will be either music played in the background or a one-man band performing. And we will be allowing only residential guests to these restaurants. No outside guests are allowed and there is no beach access. We are almost sold out for accommodation. Our guests are also very understanding and they just want a relaxed and safe time. And I believe that’s the scenario at the rest of the resorts as well on this belt,” points out Irfan Khan, director of sales and marketing of a resort in Mahabalipuram on ECR.

DJs open up…
New Year is the time that DJs actually make more money than usual. This is hitting right in the pocket. The government’s restrictions are completely understandable, but they could have implemented 50 per cent occupancy with a lot more safety precautions in place. We knew that there were going to be restrictions, but we had no idea that all events would be cancelled completely.
- DJ MAG X from Chennai
It is a safe move by the government, but at the same time a bad thing for the business. Not just the performers, but everyone behind the scene, like the audio vendors, lighting engineers, the one who supplies DJ equipment, are all affected. I perform mostly for private events and was not planning to play for NY bashes. So, it’s okay for me. But it’s a setback for many.
- DJ Veekay from Chennai
Restrictions that are in place

• No parties in hotels, resorts, farmhouses and other recreational centers
• No dance and music shows, and commercial events
• No celebrations at private housing societies or by resident welfare associations
• No gathering at beaches and places like ECR
• No parking of vehicles in arterial roads for any celebrations
• No bike races and public nuisance