These ‘viral dadis’ from Belgaum are taking the internet by storm
Thirty-two women from Shantai Vruddashram in Belgaum have gained popularity through their dance reels on social media, amassing over 37,000 followers.
A month ago, a group of seven women dressed in purple saris, captured the hearts of thousands of viewers on Instagram as they shared their video dancing to the song Tauba Tauba from the Bollywood movie Bad Newz.
The women are all over the age of 50 and their video has so far fetched 1.5 million times views.
What started as a typical old age home in Belgaum, Karnataka—Shantai Vruddashram—has gained fame across India, thanks to these 32 women who, with their dance moves, are reliving their youth by dancing on popular songs on social media. They are popularly called "viral dadis" on the internet, with dadi referring to grandmother in Hindi.
The Instagram channel started last September and currently boasts over 37,000 followers, with many young social media users as well as celebrities supporting the initiative.
Actor Vicky Kaushal, who stars in the movie Bad Newz, has praised the women for their dance performances.
Home sweet home
The old age home was started in 1998.
The old age home, started in 1998 by Vijay More and Vijay Patel, a businessman, offers free shelter, food and a place to call home to elderly people. Currently, it houses 40 people consisting of 32 women and eight men.
In her younger days, Pushpa Nirashar, now 69, worked in a factory in Belgaum. But, after the passing of her husband and in-laws, she was left all alone.
She joined Shantai Vruddashram four years ago.
“In the shelter house, I feel at home. We do all household chores together like cutting vegetables. There are so many women like me here, and I've made wonderful friends. I can't imagine life being any happier,” she tells HerStory.
Nirashar, one of the 32 women who participated in the dance reels, recalls a trip to Mumbai with the group, where many people recognised them from the reels and approached them for pictures.
“I remember one day Vijay sir came to us and said you have gone viral. I did not understand at first but he explained what had happened. I feel very happy while I am dancing. Vijay sir’s daughter teaches us how to dance and we follow her. My heart feels so full with the love we all get from the people,” she says.
The beginning
Vijay More
More was in college when his father passed away. He then became the sole breadwinner for his family which had three sisters and his mother.
He recalls studying in the morning and then working in a hotel as a waiter for the rest of the day to earn money. Despite the troubles in his personal life, More always wanted to help people in whichever way he could.
He used to work at the Junior Shivaji Park Yuvak Mandal Foundation in Belgaum. He and a friend, took care of the elderly at the foundation, regularly bringing them fruits and attending to their needs. His acts of social service did not stop there. So far, he has helped in cremating over 1,000 unclaimed bodies in Belgaum.
After helping so many old people, More realised that there are so many older adults who are out there in need of help.
“There are many elderly people who have no children, no money, and no family to care for them in their old age. It’s a tough situation, so I decided to give them a place they can call home,” he adds.
This led him to establish the old age home in 1998 with Vijay Patil who now is the Chairman of the shelter home.
In 2004, More also started working as a corporator in Belgaum, and in 12 months, he was made the mayor. However, two years later in 2008, he quit politics to focus on the shelter home.
He remembers that the old age home started as a small hall with a steel shed, but it has since expanded. It now has three halls for women, one for men, a meditation center, a function hall, a prayer room, and a kitchen.
Everyone helps with household chores and enjoys chatting, laughing, and playing games together. All the members often go out on short trips to places like Mumbai, and Goa.
More explains that during COVID-19, he and his wife and daughter shifted to the old age home. Since then, the family has been living at the shelter.
Vidya Dewan, a resident of the old age home, says that with More and his family, she feels truly at home.
Dewan worked at a dentist’s clinic in Belgaum for 15 years. She never married and later moved to Mysore with her parents, as her sister lived there. After her parents passed away and as she grew older, she learned about this old age home and decided to join in 2010.
“I feel very happy here. I didn’t know how to dance before, but when Vijay’s daughter encouraged me, I tried a few steps. Now I love dancing. Everyone here feels like my family,” she adds.
On the topic of dance reels, More says his daughter Cheryl came up with the idea last year. She encouraged the residents to make a dance reel on a popular song going around at that time.
That video got over 800,000 likes, making the women and the shelter home popular on Instagram.
More also notes that several independent donors have stepped forward to support the shelter home. “I say this that I just made an old age home for elderly people but my daughter made it popular and famous across the world,” he adds.
Edited by Affirunisa Kankudti