P B Srinivas spoke about the place nostalgically, sitting in another restaurant, the New Woodlands. "Several of my song discussions and meetings were held at the Drive-in. I still remember (music director) M S Viswanathan dictating letters to Naushad in Tamil, and me translating them into Urdu for him. (Thespian) Gemini Ganesan, for whom I have sung the maximum number of songs, used to have a permanent room there and we used to discuss songs. The place used to be very quiet in the beginning. As years went by, more and more people and more and more cars entered but the place never lost its tranquility or uniqueness.

"I have written two lakh songs sitting there. Several of my books were written there. How can I forget such a place? It is not just a part of my life but a part of the city too."

Image: Legendary playback singer P B Srinivas at the New Woodlands, surrounded by his paraphernalia.