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Digjik-digjik in Chennai! Agreed that Chennaiites are conservative and culture- conscious people. But when it comes to shaking a leg on a getaway night, they beat all else. Proof. The number of Discotheques that have come up in just a few years and their success stories.

Chennai's dance scene is not new to the world. It was Bharatnatyam. Well it is still Bharatnatyam to a certain extent, but nowadays people are more willing to accept other cultures into their daily life. Thanks to increased overseas contacts. Another valid reason is when the mecury level subsides, all the party animals run out of their dens in search of a fun-filled night life.

Disco freaks have a wide choice to choose from in Chennai. From 'Faves' to 'Not-so-fave' or 'Hep' to the 'Heppest', these places have a distinct sophistication of their own. Boasting of architectural designs, imported hi-fi speakers and state-of-the art strobes, lasers, punishers, robocolours and other flashy lights to overtake each other. Once in, a kaliedoscope of laser beams running in all directions in different colours to match the music in the background takes ones eyaballs to a rollercoaster trip!

Music taste of Chennaiites are no different from the rest. They like anything that makes them dance, scream, jump and throw their hands in the air. But the hot-faves include Trance and Techno to complement the smoke spitting corners of the dance floor.

People of Chennai have a wide choice of discs to make a beeline for when the need to groove takes over the heat. There are very 'Desi' discos that play the best of numbers from Kolywood to Bollywood along with wild western songs, while some stick to the 'Strictly Westernised' concept of boogeying the night away.

The most happening ones are 'Gatsby 2000' at Park Sheraton, 'Hell Freezes Over' at Hotel Quality Aruna Inn, 'EC41', the open-air dance floor at MGM Beach resorts and 'Socko' at Ambassador Pallava. Some other Hotels also have make shift discos-cum-coffee shop arrangement to save the public from frustration. Like 'After Dark' at Sindoori Hotel, ' Cyclone Disco' at Hotel President and 'Grind' at Hotel Abu Palace. The entry fee ranges from Rs.200 to Rs. 400 per couple.

Most of these discos target college and school students. But what about those who are caught under the 'Be Home by 6 pm' syndrome? Well there's a ray of hope. Flexi-timings. Not out of IBM or MOTOROLA culture, but this is about afternoon discos. Who says one can't dance from 2 to 6? Have feet will dance...anytime anywhere. Thats the spirit of Tamilians. After all who wants to miss a good event by a Music channel or a cool rain dance on a relaxed Saturday or a Sunday afternoon? Just head to Socko's.

So there has been a visible metamorphosis of crowd behaviour from the 1980's to the year 2001. No more retiring at 9 pm. Its partying into the night. For Goodness sake police wants us to stop by 11. But heck there are more parties in the pool than on the floor! The night is young, music is loud, the floor is packed, so just go wild!