Padma Akula’s journey of bringing a smile on people’s faces through flashmobs is an inspiring example of spreading happiness for the sake of it, as Arwa Janjali finds out
Amid the hustle-bustle of Diwali festivities, the buzzing Queen St suddenly bursts into bubbles. The dreamy Pehla Nasha from Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikander fills up the air along with the tiny transparent circular rings. Just when you are syncing in this melodiously soothing atmosphere, you hear the dhinchak (fun filled) beats of Coolie No. 1’s track Main Toh Raste Se Jaa Raha Tha.
A livewire runs through the crowd gathered around a bunch of people, who are matching steps Govinda style and crooning Tujhe Mirchi Lagi Toh Main Kya Karoon. More and more people join in, the energy getting infectious and smiles a bountiful. This is the third time Auckland witnessed this flash of joy on its roads, thanks to Padma Akula.
This Aucklander has been living up to her goal of spreading immense joy through her flashmob initiative – JoyMob International – started in December 2011.
“It’s all about spilling joy, nothing more, nothing less,” Padma says, revealing her sole purpose behind organising flashmobs. Her first attempt at bringing people together to do a jig on the Tanglish number Kolaveri Di was not just an instant hit in Auckland. The reports of the flashmob featured in Indian and American media too with many Indian online publications, including India Today covering it, along with CNN USA. The video had over a million views online going on to become the most popular among the numerous Kolaveri Di flashmobs performed world over. What more? TVNZ did a special coverage on the Kolaveri Di flashmob with Padma and her group recently as a part of their Diwali promotions.
For Padma though, the germ of this fever originated when she saw the Mumbai CST flashmob in November last year, which went viral on Facebook.
“It stirred me up. I loved the joy and togetherness that a flashmob offered and I wanted to be a part of it. So I started looking up for them in Auckland but nothing was happening. Everyone was talking about it but no one was actually doing it. I was very disheartened and poured all my disappointment on Facebook. In reply to my cribber of a FB post, one of my friends suggested why don’t I organise one if no one else was? That’s how it all began. I created a flashmob so that I could be in one,” Padma recounts, with a wide grin.
But bringing a random bunch of people together to dance on a Tamil song on a foreign land wasn’t going to be a cakewalk.
“Only five people turned up on the first day of rehearsals. And the most challenging part was that I was doing this in December, when most of my friends had gone off on their annual vacation,” she narrates, adding, “there was no way I could do a flashmob with five people. So I requested those five to get their friends and somehow we managed to get around 25 people.
Once that was sorted, the next mammoth task was to get a nod from Auckland City Council to do it at the Westfield Mall outside Britomart. I badgered them with phone calls after they gave us some hidden spot at first and refused to allow so many people to perform at one go. I think they finally agreed because they wanted to get rid of me (laughs).”
After the success of her first flashmob in Auckland, Padma took her ‘Joy Project’ to Chennai, India, followed by a flashmob in Sydney, which she organised online.
“Being the geek that I am, I wrote a manual on how to do a flashmob. So when this lady, Rashmi Bedarkar, from Sydney got in touch with me about organising a flashmob there, I passed on the manual to her and collaborated with her online,” she tells us with as much happiness as she has been spreading among people with this project.
“At the end of the day, when people message me saying that the videos of our flashmobs brought a smile on their faces, it all feels worth it. It’s been life changing for a few people. And that serves the purpose to the fullest. Also, regardless of the challenges, the people are so amazing. The amount of goodwill that poured in was unbelievable. For instance, since it was a joy project, everyone from the DJ, the photographers to the cinematographers and editors came in with generous heart. So the key to the success of this initiative has been the wholehearted support of all those wonderful people,” she stresses.
From five to 130 participants, JoyMob International has surely come a long way, but how does this screenwriter/filmmaker by profession manage choreography so well? “I am classically trained in Bharatnatyam and have choreographed for plays and various other hows. And my amazing dance coaches who coach along with me give me their 200 per cent support and commitment to make it happen. But essentially, this project is not for dancers. 50 per cent of the people involved in this have never danced before but they have the masti (mischievous fun),” she smiles.
So when is the next flashmob coming up?
“When I am inspired enough to have one,” she says cheekily. It seems like a long wait for all those who wish to be a part of this joyous endeavour. You can perhaps join in the virtual happiness by checking out the delightful video of ‘Diwali Auckland Flashmob’ on our Video section.