Visitors from U.K. join students in dancing to film songs

THE HINDU

TAMBARAM: A delegation of officials from the U.K.-based Cooperative Financial Services found it hard to resist the temptation of joining a group of children dancing to the tunes of popular Tamil songs during a visit on Thursday to the Government High School in Medavakkam near Tambaram.

After they ran out of breath, unable to keep pace with the school students, Jim Slack, head of the delegation from the financial institution said: “We apologise for not being able to dance like the youngsters. This is the greatest welcome we have ever received in our lives,” an excited Mr. Slack said.

The delegation had arrived at the school to dedicate the computer centre and library that was started on the school premises along with IT company Xansa. They were given a traditional welcome and after they sat on the dais, saw a bharatanatyam recital by girl students to the tune of ‘Om namah shivaya’ from ’Salangai Oli.’

A ‘karagaattam’ dance performance by the students to the tune of a popular number from the film ‘Karagaattakkaran’ followed. The delegation was visibly impressed, but when the song ‘pokkiri pongal’ from the film ‘Pokkiri’ was played, the team members just could not resist dancing.

They joined the band of school boys, dressed in outfits similar to those worn by actor Vijay in the film. In fact, after the song concluded, they asked organisers to play it again and tried their hand at the gyrations commonly associated with ‘kuthu’ songs in Tamil films. Soon even school teachers joined the delegation.

After the performance, Mr. Slack thanked all for the wonderful moment, but reminded the students to make full use of the computer centre and library and also to work “really really hard".