A flash mob that takes Chennai by surprise

CHENNAI: Courtesy the recent ‘flash mob’ talk on Facebook, you probably got a heads up about where and when it would take place in Chennai. This ideally would have ruined the element of ‘surprise’ that defines a flash mob. Saturday evening’s Kollywood-inspired ‘dance-attack’ maintained that surprise though. Unpublicised and kept out of the media’s reach, the flash mob that ‘hit’ shoppers (this time at Ampa Skywalk) mid-spree, really caught them unawares. Thumping beats were in place as each dancer joined the fray.When the loud opening strains of the song Variya... from  the film Pudhupettai broke out in the busy mall’s atrium, people stopped. Then, before they knew it, not one, but four dancers dived in. Asked why this group of 80 chose to put together a flash mob, separate from ‘Flash mob Madras’, a much talked about event on Facebook, Gokul Krishna, one of the organisers, said,  “Flash mobs are supposed to be spontaneous and a surprise. Unlike that one (flash mob Madras), this managed that part.”With a dance sequence under five minutes, what this group of youngsters lacked in time, they well made up for in energy. The second song, Why this Kolaveri di, which is fast becoming an anthem of sorts, was expected, but got quite a few from the spectators to plunge in — impromptu kuthu and loud hooting. The dancers, mostly working professionals and a few college students, managed to make it to a total of three practise sessions in all, before their public splash. “We had some of our friends come in as late as 5.30 pm this evening to learn the steps, and it started close to 8pm,” said an enthusiastic Sruthi, who, despite a recent accident and swollen knees, decided to not miss out on the opportunity.In true, flash mob spirit, these 20-something Chennaiites claimed that despite a few offers from corporates to wear distinctive T-shirts while they danced, they stayed true. “We didn’t want it to be a publicity stunt,” explained Madhan.  It might have lasted less than five minutes, but for those who witnessed this effort and for those who were a part of it, it was evident that the excitement would continue long after it was over.