New Delhi: As Covid cases surge in Tamil Nadu, Chennai railway police has found an innovative way to raise awareness about the virus — through dance.
In a viral video, a number of female police personnel can be seen performing to the popular Tamil song ‘Enjoy Enjaami’ at the MGR Chennai Central Railway Station. The officers wore masks and gloves while performing the dance Saturday to raise awareness about physical distancing and masks as key Covid prevention measures.
Chennai Railway Police viral dance performance to popular Enjaai Enjaami song to raise awareness about #COVID19 at MGR Chennai Central Railway station.@MoHFW_INDIA @COVIDNewsByMIB @RailMinIndia @GMSRailway @RPF_INDIA @rpfsrmas @arunkumar783 @Subramanian_ma @RAKRI1 @PIB_India pic.twitter.com/gyoh5Z36X1
— PIB in Tamil Nadu ?? (@pibchennai) May 9, 2021
A skit was also put up by the railway police to highlight the importance of masks and distancing to arrest the spread of the virus.
Police officers told ThePrint that the dance was performed by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to spread information about Covid safety measures amid the devastating second wave in the country.
“We are conducting lots of awareness programmes and thought this would be a different way of catching people’s attention. The song is also very popular,” Sethu Madhavan, assistant security commissioner of the Railway Protection Force Chennai, told ThePrint
Tamil Nadu has been witnessing a surge in Covid cases for the past few days, registering 27,000 new Covid cases and 241 deaths Saturday. Of these, 6,740 cases and 72 deaths were reported in Chennai.
In light of this, newly-appointed Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has announced a total lockdown in the state from 10 May to 24 May. He explained that the decision was taken based on a review meeting he had with district collectors as well as consultations with medical experts.
During the lockdown, Madhavan said, trains in Tamil Nadu will function on a skeletal basis. “Normal trains will not be functioning, only special trains.”
Kerala Police’s take on ‘Enjoy Enjaami’
The Kerala Police also released a video of personnel performing to a modified version of ‘Enjoy Enjaami’ to underscore the importance of Covid prevention protocol.
‘Enjoy Enjaami’, sung by musicians Dhee and Arivu, has acquired cult status in Tamil Nadu and other southern states.
The song, whose music video has garnered over 19 crore views on YouTube, was produced by A.R. Rahman’s Majja — a platform for South Asian independent musicians. It literally translates to ‘enjoy, my dear’.
(Edited by Rachel John)
Also read: Move over Kolaveri Di. Here’s why Tamil song Enjoy Enjaami is creating ripples this poll season