Muthu Vel Rice & Oil Mill

Down at No 40 on Raja Street, you can usually find us working at the mill. It’s a place that stays busy because rice and oil are things everyone needs all the time. The machines make a fair bit of noise, but after working here for years, you don't even notice it anymore. There’s always the smell of grain in the air, which I personally like. Raja Street is an old part of town and we’ve been part of it for a long time now. We get farmers coming in and local people who just want a small bag for their kitchen. It’s a lot of lifting and moving heavy sacks around, so it keeps us in shape. We don't have a fancy office or a receptionist. If you come by, you’ll likely find us out back near the loaders or checking the quality of a new batch. We just stick to the way things have been done here for a long time. It isn't complicated work, but it requires you to pay attention to the details. Sometimes the equipment acts up and we have to fix it ourselves on the spot. That is just how it goes with a mill. We start early and finish when the work is done. It’s a steady life on a street that hasn't changed much since I was a kid. You get to know the neighbors and the local shops nearby.