More Than Just Tea: Jahabar Sadique Talks Business, Culture and Chennai at Super Chennai Arattai
Chennai, 21 March 2026: Super Chennai’s Arattai today featured homegrown entrepreneur Jahabar Sadique, Co-Founder & CEO of Chai Kings, in an engaging and insightful session that brought together aspiring entrepreneurs, students and city enthusiasts. In a candid conversation, he shared the story behind building one of Chennai’s most recognisable tea brands, along with lessons from his entrepreneurial journey, challenges faced and the evolving consumption culture of the city.
Continuing its vision of celebrating the spirit, stories and changemakers of Chennai, Super Chennai Arattai, an initiative from Super Chennai, a city-wide, citizen driven branding movement, serves as an interactive platform that brings audiences closer to the individuals shaping the city’s identity. The initiative fosters open dialogue and meaningful engagement, offering a unique opportunity for citizens to connect with leaders across business, culture, sports and public life.
During the session, Jahabar Sadique reflected on how Chai Kings emerged as a bold idea in a city traditionally known for its deep-rooted filter coffee culture. He spoke about identifying a gap in the market, building a scalable brand around a simple everyday product, and reimagining tea as a contemporary urban experience. His journey resonated strongly with the audience, particularly young entrepreneurs looking to build purpose-driven ventures.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Jahabar Sadique- Co-Founder & CEO, Chai Kings said: “Chennai has always been a city of strong preferences and deep traditions. Introducing a tea-focused brand here came with its own set of challenges, but also a unique opportunity to innovate. What truly made the difference was understanding the pulse of the people and creating something that felt both familiar and refreshingly new.”
Adding to this , Mr. Balaji Sadagopan – Co-Founder & COO, Chai Kings said: “Platforms like Super Chennai Arattai play an important role in bringing out such stories and connecting people to the spirit of the city. Chennai has embraced Chai Kings in its own distinctive way, making it a landmark of its own, and that acceptance means everything to us—it reflects warmth, character, and an openness to new ideas. Entrepreneurship, at its core, is about persistence and belief.”
Photo Caption:
Photo – 1 : Ms. Akhila Krishnamurthy in conversation with Mr. Jahabar Sadique – Co- Founder & CEO, Chai Kings at Super Chennai Arattai
Photo – 2: L-R – Ms. Akhila Krishnamurthy, Independent Journalist; Mr. Jahabar Sadique, Co-Founder & CEO, Chai Kings; Mr. Balaji Sadagopan, Co-Founder & COO, Chai Kings; Mr. Anantha Narayanan, Founder – Blue Noodles
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Ranjeeth Rathod, Managing Director, Super Chennai, said: “With Super Chennai Arattai, we aim to create a platform where real stories of grit, innovation and success can inspire the community. Jahabar Sadique’s journey is a powerful example of how a simple idea, when executed with clarity and determination, can transform into a widely loved brand. His story reflects the evolving entrepreneurial spirit of Chennai.”
The session saw active participation from attendees, with an interactive Q&A segment that allowed participants to engage directly with the speaker, making the experience both personal and impactful.
‘Super Chennai Arattai’ will continue to host periodically, each edition spotlighting individuals whose work contributes meaningfully to the city’s cultural, social and entrepreneurial landscape. With curated interactions and limited seating, the initiative aims to build a stronger connection between Chennai’s changemakers and its citizens
About Super Chennai: Super Chennai is a social impact initiative launched by CREDAI Chennai, aimed at redefining Chennai as a vibrant, future-ready global city. Unveiled by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin at the FAIRPRO 2025 real‑estate exposition in February 2025, Super Chennai serves as a citizen‑driven movement to showcase the city’s strengths across technology (especially SaaS), manufacturing, medical innovation, culture, sports, food, and safety. Through its digital-first push, it facilitates real-time updates, events, awareness campaigns, and volunteer engagement, inviting students, entrepreneurs, artists, and residents to contribute to elevating Chennai’s global profile. The initiative emphasizes civic pride, inclusivity, and community participation, offering a dynamic narrative of the city that is bold, evolving, and proudly modern.
