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Netizens join ‘Rasputin challenge’ to protest against hate

Hyderabad: The Rasputin Challenge has been gaining momentum across social media in the past few weeks, thanks to the Instagram reel featuring Naveen K Razak and Janaki Omkumar, students of Thrissur Medical College who danced to the song after a routine day in the college. Dressed in scrubs and shot in the halls of the […]

By T Ivan Nischal

Published Date - 27 April 2021, 05:42 PM

Netizens join ‘Rasputin challenge’ to protest against hate

Hyderabad: The Rasputin Challenge has been gaining momentum across social media in the past few weeks, thanks to the Instagram reel featuring Naveen K Razak and Janaki Omkumar, students of Thrissur Medical College who danced to the song after a routine day in the college. Dressed in scrubs and shot in the halls of the medical college, the medicos performed to 1978 Boney M classic Rasputin which blew up on the Internet in April and gained nationwide attention and appreciation for their smooth and groovy dance moves. This prompted voices against hate, and has knowingly or unknowingly set off an influence that has compelled people to look beyond a lens of bias and loathe.

Following this there was an overwhelming support from the people of Kerala, and also many popular figures across India. Students in Kerala hit back at communal hate mongers, by taking up the ‘Rasputin Challenge’ and uploading the video of dancing to the Boney M song on social media.

As the medical community in Kerala took up the #RasputinChallenge to fight against communal hate, not only Kerala health department but also police force, featured the dancing medicos in a recent Facebook post titled “When you set Hearts on Fire ” and requested people to get vaccinated. This song revived a nostalgic feeling among the music lovers.

“Rasputin” is a song by Germany-based pop and Euro disco group Boney M. The song describes Rasputin as a playboy, mystical healer, and political manipulator. Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin was a Russian mystic and self-proclaimed holy man who befriended the family of Nicholas II, the last emperor of Russia.

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A post shared by Naveen K Razak (@naveen_k_razak)

Get Vaccinated From Nearest Vaccination Centre..
Crush The Curve..
Back to Basics..#keralapolice #CovidVaccine pic.twitter.com/QfS8fPCoR3

— Kerala Police (@TheKeralaPolice) April 11, 2021

#Kerala got swag. Thank you guys for bringing in a smile in these bleak times. pic.twitter.com/KrHs5Q7XX6

— Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) April 27, 2021

The @HydUniv go Rasputin challenge.#Hyderabad: Subaitha, Manuprasad and Anusree team, from the University of Hyderabad, joins the Rasputin challenge movement as part of the #Standagainsthatred campaign, that started in Kerala. pic.twitter.com/yKVtcINEdl

— Sumit | सुमित (@sumitjha__) April 15, 2021