Chinnaiye se? Why does that make me a joke in the corporate world?

I’m a Chennai guy, born and brought up there. My family has always been simple—mom’s a homemaker, dad’s employed, paid his taxes, and we’ve always been law-abiding citizens. I studied hard, landed a decent job, and moved out of Chennai for work—first to Bombay, now to Bangalore. But here’s the thing: the way people perceive Chennai folks, especially in the corporate world, is baffling. When I say I’m from Chennai, I often get these mocking comments like, *“Acha, Chinnaie se ho kya aap?”* with this weird tone, as if being from Chennai is some kind of joke. Even in team meetings, when I propose ideas or strategies, there’s this subtle undertone of mockery—like being from Chennai makes me some overly vocal, self-respect-obsessed or something, which I am not! The truth? I’ve been apolitical my entire life. I’ve just focused on doing my job well. But why does this stereotype persist? Why are Chennai folks seen as people who don’t gel with others or adjust to different cultures? It’s frustrating to be reduced to a caricature when all I’m trying to do is contribute and grow professionally. Has anyone else from Chennai or TN faced this? Or is it just me? Would love to hear your thoughts and experiences. **TL;DR:** Moved out of Chennai for work, facing subtle bias and mockery in the corporate world. Why are Chennai folks stereotyped? And, why do they wanna sound Chennai as *Chinnaiyei..* Thaa, yeandaa! yeann