By Arré Bench Sep. 28, 2020
“A saree, in no way, limits your moves.” Eshna Kutty proves her point with a now-viral “Genda Phool” video. Her infectious energy has caught on, as more and more women share posts dancing in a saree with a hula hoop in tow.
While sarees and shoes might seem like an odd combination only building “aunties” sport, the pair has some new-found fame. Courtesy, 23-year-old Eshna Kutty.
In a now-viral video, a saree and sneakers-clad Kutty ups the hula-hoop game as she grooves to iconic Delhi 6 track “Genda Phool”. While she seamlessly switches from one hoop trick to another, thanks to her nearly ten years of training, it is Kutty’s infectious energy unrestrained in six yards that has won over the internet.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Eshna Kutty (@eshnakutty) on
“[#sareeflow as a hashtag] had been on my mind for months,” the Lady Shri Ram College alumni wrote in her caption. “The intention was not to create the most sensual saree videos, but to feel so comfortable and happy wearing it without the pressure of being a delicate lady.”While most of us struggle to get through our workday in a saree and barely have any hula hoop skills to boost, Kutty’s effortless fusion of both has left us in part-awe, part disbelief. But the dancer’s happiness has successfully resonated with many, one of them being the “Genda Phool” singer, Rekha Bharadwaj herself. “A treat to watch her graceful dance with such aesthetics Eshna Kutty is amazing,” the singer wrote in her tweet resharing the video originally posted by Rachna Kanwar.
Aww this is amazing.Thank you @Namrata_Joshi for sharing this with me.I do have danced wearing a saree n sneakers but this.A Treat to watch her graceful dance with Hoop with such aesthetics #EshnaKutty is amazing.Will have2 learn 2 hoop from her @Rachnakanwar @ndcnn #GendaPhool https://t.co/rkxW5ig5NV
— rekha bhardwaj (@rekha_bhardwaj) September 25, 2020
It’s been three days and the post continues to be shared. What’s it about a girl in saree, sneakers, short hair, and a hula hoop that has floored millions of Indians?
Journalist Barkha Dutt has the answer: “Hope. Youth. Pizazz. Panache. Individualism,” she tweeted.
Wow. Im in ❤️ for all this video represents. Hope. Youth. Pizazz. Panache. Individualism. Dont give a damn and have fun while you're doing that. What a lovely daughter you have @ndcnn https://t.co/ZIXTvsH8R6
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) September 25, 2020
But mostly it is her saree swag. Often considered as something that binds you, watching Kutty break away from that stereotype is truly joyful.
When #Saree meets hoop, sneakers & gendaphool 😊
What infectious energy…Loved it totally! pic.twitter.com/hL6EcDEyA4— Priyanka Shukla (@PriyankaJShukla) September 26, 2020
I simply couldn't help but share this dance video of Eshna Kutty.
This young, talented lady is the daughter of journalist @ndcnn.
Traditional dresses are not only graceful, they are cool too!
Glad to know that our younger generation is discovering it.pic.twitter.com/Xk22nf99PH— Soumyadipta (@Soumyadipta) September 25, 2020
Saree-Shoes-Hoolaloop …. Deadly combo.
Someone else has shared this. Still, I couldn't stop myself from tweeting again.
Meet Eshna Kutty 👇 I have heard she holds hoolaloop classes too. pic.twitter.com/Frm3MsUlVU
— Usha (@mauna_adiga) September 25, 2020
A dance movement practitioner and a professional hoop dancer, Kutty did not expect her practice video to gain such popularity. She did not have a Twitter account prior to her viral video and first learned about the absolute chaos her saree hula-hooping moves had caused on the platform through her mother, journalist Chitra Narayanan.
Didn't think my IG video would blow up here. Also never thought I'd make a twitter account but here i am thanks to the love pouring in. Genda Phool is one of my fav songs & @rekha_bhardwaj your voice singlehandedly set the mood for this video. Tks for the share @Rachnakanwar 🙂 https://t.co/pjkFm2eqIP
— Eshna Kutty (@EshnaKutty) September 25, 2020
The proud mom was full of support of her daughter, introducing her to the internet as the one who “sparked off a #sareeflow trend”.
Woke up to several people whatsapping me this video ! Meet my daughter who has sparked off a #sareeflow trend. https://t.co/ZITVFGmpOe
— Chitra Narayanan (@ndcnn) September 25, 2020
Yup, what's showing is ten years of learning of lots of performing arts and sports forms (from gymnastics to kalari to Capoeira to dance to music), daily practice, dedicated yoga routine, teaching others etc etc .
— Chitra Narayanan (@ndcnn) September 26, 2020
Talking about the video, Kutty describes it as her merely being her “authentic self, just having fun.” The fact that it resonated with people and brought along a wave of positivity “was the best part about it,” she told The Indian Express.
However, this isn’t Kutty’s first attempt at #sareeflow. The dancer has weaved the saree into her hoop moves to add “a very unique twist to a global art form”, that is slowly picking up in India. “The video combines two things — a saree which is so integral to the Indian society, and hooping that is relatively alien to us,” she says. “Our generation is more free with their expression and I wanted to show that a saree, in no way, limits your moves!”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Eshna Kutty (@eshnakutty) on
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Eshna Kutty (@eshnakutty) on
With the attention on #sareeflow, Kutty hopes to spotlight Indian hoopers. “Actually, I wanted #DesiFlow instead of #SareeFlow (to trend) because I wanted it to accommodate all traditional attires, and want even men to take up this art since hula hooping is still perceived as feminine flow-form,” she told Hindustan Times in an interview. While much is yet to be done on the hooping front in the country, the Delhi resident has taken it in her stride, training budding hoopers for the past five years now.
When she isn’t saree hooping, Eshna Kutty can be found ukulele hooping…
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Eshna Kutty (@eshnakutty) on
Making an appearance on TV…
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Eshna Kutty (@eshnakutty) on
Blindfold and hoops, anyone?
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Eshna Kutty (@eshnakutty) on
And playing with fire!
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Eshna Kutty (@eshnakutty) on
From Bollywood’s resident dance machine Hritik Roshan to Chitrangada Singh, Eshna Kutty and her #sareeflow have blown the minds of the many, with her video having garnered over 1.5 million views now. Mahindra group chairman Anand Mahindra called Kutty a “star”, and hoped to see “the #sareeflow movement grow.”
I believe I’m already late in noticing this video…But it doesn’t make me any less awestruck..A star is born…Thank you for the #Friday high. May the #sareeflow movement grow… https://t.co/OtinRUCqYn
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) September 25, 2020
It has. Several women have shared their own versions of the saree-hula hoop challenge.