Icil

Icil is out at 7, Subramania Siva Salai, in the Industrial Estate at Maraimalai Nagar. It’s a bit of a trek if you’re coming from the main part of the city, but it’s where all the space is for this kind of work. The estate is huge, and sometimes it feels like its own little world out here. Our building is a simple structure that’s seen better days, but it’s solid and keeps the rain out. Inside, it’s mostly open space where the production lines are set up. We spend a lot of time on our feet, moving between the different sections and making sure the machinery is behaving itself. The humidity in this part of the country can be pretty brutal, so the fans are always spinning at top speed. We’ve got a small crew, and everyone pretty much knows what their job is without being told every five minutes. There’s a lot of metal-on-metal noise during the peak hours, which can be a bit much if you aren't used to it. We don't put much stock in fancy titles or big offices. Even the managers spend most of their time out on the floor with everyone else. It’s a very grounded way to work, and we prefer it that way. When the shift ends, there’s a bit of a scramble to get to the buses and the trains, but then the place gets quiet until the next morning when we do it all again.