#aibroast

A not so recent controversy created  not so required havoc in our country which actually proved the hypocrites do posses a talent. A talent worth appreciating on the grounds of creating nuisance, where our bureaucracy and politicians are absolutely free to sparkle the fire created by them. A not so decent or I actually might call it filthy and dirty show which was aired on YouTube on 28th January- the most happening show for youngsters of today's world, the ‘AIB Roast on Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor’ . The show was hosted by Karan Johar and the high profile B-town was present to participate in an obscure show to raise the million hits on YouTube. 

“Statutory warnings” were flashed on the screen but being a hypocrite you actually don't give a shit about those. 

As the infamous Raghu of Roadies fame rightly said that the show will get extra likes when you abuse and he did proved to be 100% right. 

Apart from being abusive it had humour (some may call it crass but well be a sport) and loads and loads of laughter for people to leave it wide smiling and for a fact not even a single person present in the show was offended while leaving. 

The show was designed to insult the celebrities on stage and yet the 'aam janta' watching it with their asses glued were offended. 

I guess they might have missed when Karan Johar stated if it's not your cup of tea, don't drink it. 

The hypocrites might have the authority to do otherwise or else the show wouldn't have been an anti-hit in the media. People who are being  insulted have absolutely no problem with it and still we the people of 'mahan India' poke our noses into their shit. 

The media has gone crazy asking absurd questions about the roast and so are the people posting hate comments and tweeting about it. 

Roam around anywhere and you'll find the filth in people's mind, obscene language on their tongues and gestures & manners to prove our Sanskriti is utterly wrong. 

But why would people look into themselves when they're enjoying tearing apart someone else's image just to prove how 'Bhartiya' they are. Right eh ?

Grow up people! 

And I literally mean it. It's hardly a big deal to raise so much concern on a not so important humorous show. There is the entire nation and national problems to look into.

Do something concrete with your shitty mind and move on or else shows like these might never stop but we might be wasting ounces of energy just to prove how much fucked up we are!

Patriotism is like a drug which keeps us on a high. It is clearly a better emotion than romance because it is more profound, purportedly unselfish and the related passion can be exhibited with pride in public. The most Patriotic (Proud to be an Indian)period I have witnessed before we elected PM Modi was from the years 1997-2002. This was also the period when I was a student of Apeejay School, Nerul.

We had just celebrated 5 decades of Independence from foreign rulers. AR Rahman’s crooning and rendition of the “Vande Mataram” instilled more pride in Indians heading to a new century. We tested homemade nuclear bombs much to the resentment of the international community and envy of a neighbour. Our soldiers and cricketers won their respective wars in Kargil and Old Trafford (different issue that Pakistan made it to the Finals of World Cup 1999). Bollywood would regularly dish Patriotism garnished movies like Border, Sarfarosh, Pardes, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Raja Hindustani and Zakhm (sorry, I got carried away). Such current affairs and movies ensured “Patriotism is in the air”.

This patriotic fervour would automatically get carried forward to our School functions like House Shows, Annual Day celebrations and the likes. The nationalism would be ideally displayed in dances or plays which would be choreographed or directed by a teacher. A lot of dedication and efforts used to go towards such endeavours. Even after passage of considerable time, I remember most of them. I had even acted in one of those which was directed by our English Teacher Mrs. Poonam/Purnima* Swarup (Ma’am). Swarup Ma’am had directed 2 such patriotic and national unity themed plays. Then I believe she moved out of Mumbai and the onus of directing the “Annual Day” drama was taken over by another faculty of English Mrs. Manjula Shenoi (Ma’am).

Manjula Ma’am was a very ambitious lady and students used to admire her for that. She wanted to see the same characteristics in her students and colleagues and would try her best to extract the same from them. She was aware of the patriotic themed dramas. So she decided to direct the entire 90 years of Independence struggle from 1857-1947. Well that was our Std. X history syllabus. In her endeavour she wanted to include all the ambitious senior students of Apeejay, Nerul. And she did manage to get the best. I also tried to be a part of the play and got a role from which I eventually backed out. I got a 2 minute role of the Hangman. The 2 minutes was not the reason I had backed out.

While rehearsing on the 1st day, I was asked to hang the trio of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru. I was naïve and pulled an invisible rope whereas I was supposed to pull an invisible lever. The only ones to realise my folly was Manjula Ma’am and this dark guy who was most probably Rajguru. Ma’am erupted laughing and Rajguru remarked, “Dude, you are supposed to pull a lever.” He enacted it. I was naïve, I was embarrassed and never returned to play the hangman. (I was glad my gullibility was not seen by my classmates.)

So while watching the final installment on the Annual Day, I followed this particular scene. The hangman was a fat guy and looked his part for the role. He pulled the lever after a smiling and proud Rajguru shouted, “Vande Mataram" and "Inquelab Zindabad” as the strains of “Mera Rang de Basanti Chola” was heard in the backdrop. Years later when Facebook recommended the dark guy/ Rajguru, the world knows him as one of the members of the comedy ensemble AIB- Ashish Shakya.

Ashish Shakya today finds himself in a similar position of Rajguru where the cultured are baying for their audacity. The controversy was generated when AIB posted the edited version of the ambitious AIB Roast. A FIR has been filed against the group by the cultured zealots of our country. I have argued the reason behind the gamble, AIB had taken in “The Financial Punch of AIB” and they had almost pulled it off. They collected Rs 1.6 crores for a 2 hour show.

They were finding financial constraints in their productions. And the money they collected could have been judiciously used in other creative pursuits of AIB. Even their industriousness would win favours among investors. A major portion of the collection was also given for charity. But the likes of some social activists want to see AIB members are severely punished.

In a recent radio program, a certain Abha Singh requested members from the 4000 strong audience to file a complaint of harassment. For more than a month, these members of the audience who did not find the content vulgar or hurting their sentiments are being requested to file a frivolous case. The group at the very onset of the program had warned viewers and spectators.

Many people did not particularly like the content (including me) but we don’t see ourselves as embarrassed as witnessing worse acts of crime and apathy that go unpunished in our society and country. If you want to draw political milieu from the episode there are other places to look up to.

If detractors manage to get the people associated with the AIB Roast punished, they should also direct similar actions against the likes of Geelani, Subhramanian Swamy and other such fundamentalists whose insensitive comments lead to more communal disharmony and affect our cherished culture and society.

Patriotism is like a drug which keeps us on a high. It is clearly a better emotion than romance because it is more profound, purportedly unselfish and the related passion can be exhibited with pride in public. The most Patriotic (Proud to be an Indian)period I have witnessed before we elected PM Modi was from the years 1997-2002. This was also the period when I was a student of Apeejay School, Nerul.

We had just celebrated 5 decades of Independence from foreign rulers. AR Rahman’s crooning and rendition of the “Vande Mataram” instilled more pride in Indians heading to a new century. We tested homemade nuclear bombs much to the resentment of the international community and envy of a neighbour. Our soldiers and cricketers won their respective wars in Kargil and Old Trafford (different issue that Pakistan made it to the Finals of World Cup 1999). Bollywood would regularly dish Patriotism garnished movies like Border, Sarfarosh, Pardes, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Raja Hindustani and Zakhm (sorry, I got carried away). Such current affairs and movies ensured “Patriotism is in the air”.

This patriotic fervour would automatically get carried forward to our School functions like House Shows, Annual Day celebrations and the likes. The nationalism would be ideally displayed in dances or plays which would be choreographed or directed by a teacher. A lot of dedication and efforts used to go towards such endeavours. Even after passage of considerable time, I remember most of them. I had even acted in one of those which was directed by our English Teacher Mrs. Poonam/Purnima* Swarup (Ma’am). Swarup Ma’am had directed 2 such patriotic and national unity themed plays. Then I believe she moved out of Mumbai and the onus of directing the “Annual Day” drama was taken over by another faculty of English Mrs. Manjula Shenoi (Ma’am).

Manjula Ma’am was a very ambitious lady and students used to admire her for that. She wanted to see the same characteristics in her students and colleagues and would try her best to extract the same from them. She was aware of the patriotic themed dramas. So she decided to direct the entire 90 years of Independence struggle from 1857-1947. Well that was our Std. X history syllabus. In her endeavour she wanted to include all the ambitious senior students of Apeejay, Nerul. And she did manage to get the best. I also tried to be a part of the play and got a role from which I eventually backed out. I got a 2 minute role of the Hangman. The 2 minutes was not the reason I had backed out.

While rehearsing on the 1st day, I was asked to hang the trio of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru. I was naïve and pulled an invisible rope whereas I was supposed to pull an invisible lever. The only ones to realise my folly was Manjula Ma’am and this dark guy who was most probably Rajguru. Ma’am erupted laughing and Rajguru remarked, “Dude, you are supposed to pull a lever.” He enacted it. I was naïve, I was embarrassed and never returned to play the hangman. (I was glad my gullibility was not seen by my classmates.) 

So while watching the final installment on the Annual Day, I followed this particular scene. The hangman was a fat guy and looked his part for the role. He pulled the lever after a smiling and proud Rajguru shouted, “Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata ki Jai” as the strains of “Mohe Rang de Basanti Chola” was heard in the backdrop. Years later when Facebook recommended the dark guy/ Rajguru, the world knows him as one of the members of the comedy ensemble AIB- Ashish Shakya.

Ashish Shakya today finds himself in a similar position of Rajguru where the cultured are baying for their audacity. The controversy was generated when AIB posted the edited version of the ambitious AIB Roast. A FIR has been filed against the group by the cultured zealots of our country. I have argued the reason behind the gamble, AIB had taken in “The Financial Punch of AIB” and they had almost pulled it off. They collected Rs 1.6 crores for a 2 hour show. 

They were finding financial constraints in their productions. And the money they collected could have been judiciously used in other creative pursuits of AIB. Even their industriousness would win favours among investors. A major portion of the collection was also given for charity. But the likes of some social activists want to see AIB members are severely punished.

In a recent radio program, a certain Abha Singh requested members from the 4000 strong audience to file a complaint of harassment. For more than a month, these members of the audience who did not find the content vulgar or hurting their sentiments are being requested to file a frivolous case. The group at the very onset of the program had warned viewers and spectators.

Many people did not particularly like the content (including me) but we don’t see ourselves as embarrassed as witnessing worse acts of crime and apathy that go unpunished in our society and country. If you want to draw political milieu from the episode there are other places to look up to.

If detractors manage to get the people associated with the AIB Roast punished, they should also direct similar actions against the likes of Geelani, Subhramanian Swamy and other such fundamentalists whose insensitive comments lead to more communal disharmony and affect our cherished culture and society.

If somebody's nude pictures are LEAKED.. then yes it is offensive.. and humiliating..but if that same person admits, and accepts to pose nude for a photo shoot or a nude scene in a movie, then the person has accepted to do so and it is with the person's prior consent .

The same was in the knockout, people knew they were going to be made fun of and by fun,yes even by using extreme slangs. But they had agreed upon it and it was all in good spirit.

Racist jokes were there but only intended towards one person, not a whole crowd..Ranveer singh was called slutty,alia bhatt dumb, Sonakshi sinha as being a bag of carbs or something...but they all laughed it off.. 

It was JUST A JOKE.

certainly not something to be made an issue of at National level

It is a crucial time in India right now. Our freedom of speech has gone through so many ups / downs and has taken a beating over and over. We have banned books, banned movies, and censored anything we possibly can.

We are a nation that lives for controversy. We look forward to it. We get upset every time someone says something to us. Our priorities are wrong.

I think this AIB incident is bringing our freedom of speech and expression into question and I feel that those of you who read this should try to understand, that it is not abusive language that we are fighting for, it is the ability to speak up, and speak up freely without fear.

The reason I write anonymously and have been doing so for the past few months is only because in this modern world, with the internet, and in a so called democracy, with fundamental rights and freedom, I am still scared. I am afraid that someone will find out who I am, object to what I say and arrest me or even worse, shoot me in the face.

One of my earlier posts was about a fictional account on the Obama visit. A series of 3-4 pictures captioned with hard truths. But as soon as I published it, I changed the title to use the word "fictitious" and wrote a little disclaimer at the end telling all readers that I in no way want to offend them or cause trouble. I am ASHAMED OF MYSELF FOR BEING THAT AFRAID.

Between AIB's videos, TVF's newest video and Being Indian's Video, and the online coverage of recent events, it is obvious that the time to speak is now. I think the greatest crime we could commit at this time, is allow this dialogue to die down and not speak up any more. The discussion on free speech, reduced censorship, and this constant need by the people to feel offended/threatened needs to be addressed now.

Our country, the government and people in power continue to feel threatened by anyone who comes along and questions the system. This must change. The point of living in "The World's Largest Democracy" was to be able to have a system of checks and balances. That system is constantly failing. And while the people in power are to blame, I think the citizens in the country are to blame as well. Especially the small percentage who are better educated than the rest. We waste the advantage we have by keeping silent.

Our traditional sources of news and media are owned by the very people we would like to talk about. We are left with only a handful of "clean" sources. Over time, they too will be taken over or stopped. That cannot be allowed. Perhaps I sound like someone who sees a doom and only doom, and I assure you that is not the case. What I see is an opportunity for us, the young people of this country to try and fix it.

Your attention is held for very short periods and I hope you agree that everyone focussing on one event is very rare. Use this time wisely, speak out! Maybe we could actually bring about a change this time, we are almost there.