74-year-old in a saree takes a Rolls-Royce for a spin in Dubai: Meet Kerala’s ‘Driver Amma’ who has Anand Mahindra cheering

Imagine a 74-year-old woman in a flowing saree sliding into the driver's seat of a gleaming Rolls-Royce Ghost, cruising Dubai's streets like it's no big deal. Well, this might seem like a scene from an animated movie, but it’s no fiction.

That's the magic of Radhamani Amma, Kerala's "Driver Amma," whose viral video has the internet buzzing with appreciation and amazement.

She is one of the shining examples that is not just about luxury rides; it's proof of relentless toil, lifelong learning, and chasing dreams no matter the odds, in a world that is quick to stereotype genders in a box.

Driver Amma steals the show in Dubai

Radhamani Amma, affectionately known as Mani Amma or "Driver Amma," stole the show with a video of her driving a Rolls-Royce Ghost in Dubai, posted on her Instagram @maniamma_official.

The 74-year-old Kerala native wore a saree and first showed her International Driving Permit, mandatory for driving abroad, before confidently taking the wheel. Her poised navigation impressed viewers, smashing age and gender norms.

The clip went viral online, gathering engagement and appreciation for being a shining example of breaking stereotypes. Anand Mahindra has been well known for sharing a series of quirky and unique threads on social media, and this time, he called Amma “MondayMotivation” and lauded her “insatiable appetite for life.”

Amma has 11 types of driving licences

What sets "Driver Amma" apart is her collection of 11 driving licences for cars, buses, trucks, cranes, forklifts, and more, a trait recognised by the India Book of Records for the most held by a 70-plus-year-old. She co-founded A2Z Institute of Heavy Equipment in Kerala, where she trains folks, especially women, on heavy vehicles in a traditionally male field.

On Instagram, she shares wisdom like, “The best drivers are not those who drive fast, but those who drive with calm and control.” She's also 'Inspirational Personality of the Year' 2022 and recently earned a mechanical engineering diploma in her 70s, according to a Money Control report.

What has her driving journey been like

Amma's story began over 40 years ago. “I first ventured into driving when my husband suggested,” she told The Indian Express. She got her four-wheeler licence in 1981 and a heavy vehicle one in 1984, rare for Kerala women then. Despite losing her husband in 2004, she grew her institute amid challenges.

“Driving is now considered a necessity for both men and women,” she said, adding that skilled drivers have more opportunities regardless of gender. She urges, “If you truly desire something, with dedication and belief, you can achieve it,” viewing learning as “an eternal voyage.”