A routine interview with Manorama Online has turned into Kerala’s newest viral moment. The clip features Mohinder Singh, co-owner of ‘Sethi Da Dhaba’ in Kochi, speaking fluent, unaccented Malayalam as he talks about his restaurant’s 10th anniversary. The catch? Mohinder is Punjabi.
What was meant to be a simple chat about food became a masterclass in cultural adaptation. No subtitles needed. No hesitation. Mohinder switches between talking about healthy cooking and joking about customer favourites, all in the same easy Malayalam his Kochi customers use every day. Netizens noticed immediately, and the video was soon being shared on X, Instagram, and WhatsApp groups from Thrissur to Toronto.
The clip quickly reached Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who has long championed Kerala’s pluralism and often highlights everyday stories of integration. Sharing the video on X, Tharoor wrote: “Wonderful to hear him articulate so fluently his satisfaction and appreciation for Keralites’ enjoyment of Punjabi food! Born and brought up in Kerala, so his fluency is no surprise— but great to hear amid the incongruity of his appearance! A striking affirmation of our fabled #UnityInDiversity!”
