Gokulnath (C) along with his college students and their world file certificates

When Ok Gokulnath factors his finger at her, 10-year-old Andrea Varghese walks to the nook the place gymnastics mattresses have been piled. She picks one out and proceeds to contort her physique in methods unimaginable.

A scholar at Gokulnath Distinctive Expertise Academy (GUTA), a circulate arts college in Chennai, Andrea is without doubt one of the few left at GUTA who doesn’t but have a Guinness World Report to her identify; her father Varghese Joseph informs us she is practising every day to alter the established order. Her goal? Attempt to obtain the utmost variety of backwards roll while staying contorted!

GUTA is the brainchild of Gokulnath, who’s an actor-performer-filmmaker-dance and stunt choreographer all rolled into one. Since March 2020, Gokul, his group of trainers at GUTA (which he operates in Arumbakkam and Virugambakkam within the metropolis) and their college students have collectively set 16 Guinness World Information. “You could possibly say this [records] is changing into a USP for us,” he smiles.

His academy in Arumbakkam is on the primary ground of a business constructing on Valluvar Avenue, a couple of paces down the street from Jai Nagar Park close to CMBT bus terminus. The scholars embrace a four-year-old woman who Gokul factors to and says, “She can provide us 30 push-ups simply.” The world data the scholars have set vary from ‘Most rotations of a hula hoop on one ft while in head stand place in a single minute’ to ‘Most juggling catches on a steadiness board in a single minute’.

Growing curiosity

The 36-year-old Gokul began GUTA in 2018, and for some time had aligned it with that of choreographer Kala’s dance studio in Anna Nagar. In February 2020, he moved to the area in Arumbakkam. Lockdown started quickly after.

“A scholar pitched the thought [of attempting world records] throughout lockdown. I discovered that there have been a number of classes in circulate arts that could possibly be tried and accomplished inside a minute. These have been additionally a part of their classes, and so doing this was useful in retaining the scholars’ curiosity [during lockdown],” says Gokul, a distinguished face in tv. He and his group prepare college students in numerous circulate (circus) arts like hula hoops, rolla bolla, poi spinning, juggling, silambam and even trapeze.

Gokul’s curiosity in circulate arts, he says, began as a university scholar. His publicity on TV — Gokul was the runner up in season three of Kalakka Povathu Yaaru , which was gained by actor Sivakarthikeyan; he had additionally taken half in reveals like Naalaiya Iyakkunar and Maanada Mayilada moreover showing in movies like Ambuli 3D , Magalir Mattum and Airaa amongst others — additionally helped.

“My work on TV took me to 26 completely different international locations the place I met many road performers and from whom I took lessons. I had additionally attended workshops on circus arts each overseas and in Goa. However in Tamil Nadu there’s little or no curiosity in circulate arts,” he remarks.

With 16 data within the kitty, GUTA is planning to recruit mother and father as nicely of their pursuits. Final week, Gokul enlisted the assistance of fogeys in a world file try — passing a hula hoop alongside a human chain of 100 folks in below 5 minutes; an try which was unsuccessful. He, nevertheless, insists he’ll redo the try till he will get the specified consequence.

Says Indu Sukumar, whose son Adhav trains at GUTA and lately tried to set a file by climbing a fleet of fifty stairs while hula-hooping, “The youngsters are extra desirous about such actions. My son is now into juggling as nicely. He’s additionally getting ready to offer the (aforementioned) file try a second attempt.”

And for some like Mithun TS, who works within the IT trade, coming to such lessons helps him meet like-minded mother and father and bond over their children’ gymnastics skills. “It additionally retains the kid occupied particularly at the moment when on-line lessons occur,” he provides.

For the kids, circulate arts has earned them recognition — amongst classmates and lecturers in class. Those with data to their identify are afforded the lengthy finish of the rope in terms of lecturers, if it helps with their apply.

For Gokul, that is changing into a lifestyle. He says, “My subsequent file will likely be with my spouse. We will likely be making the most important origami coronary heart for Valentine’s Day.” On February 4, nevertheless, the Guinness World Information licensed Gokulnath and his accomplice as the brand new file holders within the aforementioned class, having made an origami coronary heart that measures 3.82 metres x 3.35 metres.

Gokulnath may be contacted on 7338827800.