Cholavaram, also spelled Sholavaram, is a suburb 24 km north of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is popular as Sholavaram and is also known for the Cholavaram lake. Adjoining the lake, there was a defunct Air Force Airfield which was used as a motor racing track. It was an air strip used during World War II; After the Madras Motor Sports Club was formed in mid-50s, it selected Sholavaram to conduct its racing events. Since then racing events took place every year and continued till late 1980s until the Madras Motor Sports Club built a new track at Irungattukottai, Sriperumbudur, Chennai. The Malayalam actor Jayan was killed in a helicopter accident here during the shooting of his film Kolilakkam on 16 November 1980.