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After Shashi Tharoor Calls Idli A “Sublime Creation,” Swiggy Responds With An Unexpected Gesture

Shashi Tharoor’s poetic ode to the humble idli went viral online, comparing it to art, music, and cricketing genius. The witty defence caught Swiggy’s attention, who turned his words into reality with a doorstep delivery of steaming idlis. What began as a food fight became a cultural celebration and a marketing win.

by Mahi Adlakha
After Shashi Tharoor Calls Idli A “Sublime Creation,” Swiggy Responds With An Unexpected Gesture

When Shashi Tharoor decides to defend something, he rarely does it in half-measures. This weekend, the Congress MP picked an unlikely hero, the humble idli, and elevated it to the level of a Beethoven symphony. With his trademark eloquence, he turned a simple breakfast into a lyrical celebration of culture and taste. Post which, Swiggy responded in the most heart-warming way.

Shashi Tharoor’s Viral Idli Tweet Sparks Social Media Buzz

One X user had dismissed the South Indian staple as “steamed regret.” Shashi Tharoor, in characteristically ornate fashion, fired back: “A truly great idli is a cloud, a whisper, a perfect dream of the perfectibility of human civilisation.”

He didn’t stop there. Idli, according to him, is “a sublime creation, a delicate, weightless morsel of rice and lentil, steamed to an ethereal fluffiness that melts on the tongue.” To drive his point home, he placed it alongside the works of MF Husain, Tagore’s music, and a Sachin Tendulkar century. In other words, to call idli bland was, in Tharoor’s eyes, nothing short of sacrilege.

Also Read: Mumbai’s Favourite South Indian Restaurant, Dakshinayan, Opens In Thane! Devour Crisp Dosas & Podi Idlis Near You

Swiggy’s Unexpected Gesture Wins The Internet

The post by Shashi Tharoor exploded online, not just for its literary flourish but for the sheer passion with which the MP from Thiruvananthapuram defended his breakfast. And then came the plot twist. Swiggy, clearly amused and inspired, decided to give his words a literal flavour. On Sunday, its delivery team showed up at Tharoor’s residence armed with boxes of steaming idlis.

They didn’t just deliver the food, they delivered a performance. Swiggy posted a photograph of Shashi Tharoor smiling with their staff and matched his lyrical tone in Hindi: “It is a matter of extreme delight for us that we had the opportunity to serve Shri Tharoor Ji the region’s finest idli. We hope our team has succeeded in satisfying his taste buds and that these unparalleled marvels of culinary art have brought him to a state of supreme bliss.” 

The banter between Shashi Tharoor and idli mixed with Swiggy’s unexpected entry was bound to touch hearts.

Also Read: Zomato And Swiggy Riders Turn Heroes; Rescue Journalist And Many Others Caught In Hyderabad Floods

What began as an online food fight suddenly turned into a feel-good brand moment. Swiggy not only scored a marketing win but also tapped into a deep well of cultural pride around the South Indian breakfast table. And Shashi Tharoor? He may have just secured his place as the unofficial brand ambassador of idli. After all, how many people can summon a plate of hot food to their doorstep simply by writing about it like poetry?

Cover Image Courtesy: Swiggy/X

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First Published: September 29, 2025 11:40 AM