Written by PT Eunisa
Inspired by Korean ambassador Chang Jae-bok dancing to the Oscar-winning Naatu Naatu song from SS Rajamouli’s RRR along with embassy staff, the German ambassador to India and Bhutan, Dr. in a flash mob in Chandni Chowk.
“Germans can’t dance? Me and my Indo-German team celebrated #NaatuNaatu’s victory at #Oscar95 in Old Delhi. Okay, far from perfect. But nice!” he said in the tweet. He also thanked the Korean embassy for their inspiration and congratulated the RRR team and actor Ram Charan.
German embassy spokesman Sebastian Fuchs, who also took part in the dance, said the 2.19-minute video was intended to congratulate the RRR team and India for winning the award. The act lasted about two hours and 20 people from the embassy, including Germans and Indians, gathered to perform at 10am on Friday with the help of a choreographer.
Choosing Chandni Chowk and getting to the spot by bus was difficult, he said, but the idea was to get everyone out of their comfort zone. “The flash mob was a different experience, in which there was a great kind of spirit and energy,” he said.
The preparation took two to three days, said Radhika of the embassy administration, who also participated in the dance. She added that the embassy’s PR team made all the arrangements – from finding the choreographer to setting up the place in Chandni Chowk. The idea of cultural exchange included the wearing of Indian kurtas by the Germans and Bavarian clothes such as dirndl and lederhosen by Native Americans.
Even though it was difficult to understand the language, choreographers from Hash Aerobics and Dance Studio made it easier. “It was a lifetime exposure for everyone because we’ve never done a flash mob before, and we took this as an opportunity to appreciate RRR for winning the Oscar,” said Radhika.
Last month, 50 diplomats and employees of the Korean embassy, including Indian and Korean nationals who worked at the Korean Cultural Center, participated in the dance video.