Faculty members of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences shake a leg during Synergy- 2006. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, Jan. 31: They dropped the scalpel and solutions and picked up the beat, as doctors moved to the rhythm of film songs during Synergy-2006, a cultural festival, held on the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) premises here today.

Even the director of the institute could not tear himself away from the action as he, too, danced to the folk beats. Future medicos surprised audiences by their smart and artistic choreography and sense of rhythm.

?I did not know doctors could dance so well and perform so beautifully. This is absolutely fantastic. I would like to thank the organising team of Synergy-2006 for giving doctors a platform to showcase their talents,? said a member of the audience.

The medical students, themselves, were surprised and elated to see the director, J. Prasad dance with other heads of department, to a folk tune.

Former professors, who came in as guests, were cheering up the students by clapping and tapping their feet.

The programme, which was organised after a gap of many years, came as a welcome break for the students and professors alike.Garima and her partner were adjudged as the winners of the duet round in the dance competition. They danced to the popular movie song of Kisna. Madhuri and Richa secured the second position in the competition for their dance on the song ?Dola Re?.

Cheers continued in the solo dance performances, as well, as participants performed on classical and semi-classical songs.

Suditi from the 2004 batch was judged the winner for her performance of the ?Nimuda? song, while Indu Shekhar got the second prize for her Bharatnatyam performance. In the morning session, there were other events lined up such as dumb charades, Thirkan ? another dance competition ? which had group, solo and duet contests and a solo singing competition.

So pleased were the former teachers with the students? efforts that one of them announced a cash prize of Rs 5,000 for the best dancer in the competition.

Former teachers, Shobha Chakravarty and Usha Rani, both formerly in the gynaecology department said during their time, such events did not happen at all.

They were all praises for the students when they stressed: ?The doctors can display their talent and can also have fun and relax through such events.?

Earlier, the students took up a different endeavour by taking part in the Rangoli and calligraphy competitions.