Key Points
- Air India has unveiled a new in-flight safety video titled ‘Safety Mudras,’ featuring eight traditional Indian dance forms.
- The video clip has garnered online attention due to its creative approach to delivering safety instructions.
- An aviation safety expert highlights that the video fails to include a vital safety message.
It has garnered significant circulation across various social media platforms, shared by numerous netizens.
Each dance form has been used to demonstrate a particular safety instruction; for instance, Kathak illustrates mask safety, while Bharatnatyam demonstrates seat-belt safety guidelines.
According to an Air India official statement, the video will first be screened to passengers on its A350 aircraft and then gradually installed on other Air India aircraft.
Tara Rajkumar, OAM, the founder of a dance academy in Melbourne, described the video as a “remarkably innovative approach that uplifted the spirit”.
Tara Rajkumar, OAM, runs a dance academy in Melbourne. Credit: Tara Rajkumar
“It has been aesthetically done with all the dance forms, costumes and will surely catch passengers’ attention,” Rajkumar said.
However, she said she was sceptical about the video’s effectiveness, noting that, “we still need to know if it successfully captivates viewers’ attention without diverting them from important messages.”
A Bharatnatyam dancer showcases seatbelt safety procedures. Credit: Air India
“Viewers might be drawn to the visuals and music featured in the video. Conversely, it could also provide relief to travellers experiencing flying anxiety,” she noted.
According to Zlatko Varenina, a Business and First Class flight attendant with Qantas, the video is refreshing and is expected to enhance passengers’ attentiveness to important messages.
Zlatko Varenina works with Qantas Airlines. Credit: Zlatko Varenina
“It immediately grabbed my attention, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Many other airlines have produced creative videos previously. I believe this one will resonate positively with passengers,” Varenina said.
Crucial safety instruction left out, expert says
Sydney-based aviation safety expert, Oleksandra Molloy, said while entertaining safety briefings might enhance passengers’ moods, they might not effectively communicate vital safety information, as indicated by previous research.
Safety aviation expert, Oleksandra Molloy. Credit: Oleksandra Molloy
“From (a) human factors perspective, due to the limitations in human information processing or the nature of an individual’s selective attention, the relevant information from the safety briefing can be missed,” she said.
