Indian poet and filmmaker Srijato Bandyopadhyay has voiced his concerns on social media regarding what he views as disrespect towards Rabindranath Tagore on the popular sketch comedy talk show "The Great Indian Kapil Show."
On Thursday, he vented his frustration on Facebook, claiming that actress Kajol, who has Bengali heritage, participated in the Kapil Sharma show despite knowing about the potential mockery of Tagore's song. He accused comedian Krushna Abhishek of misrepresenting Tagore's "Ekla Cholo Re" during her appearance, exploiting her Bengali roots.
Srijato wrote, "Perhaps due to Kajol's Bengali roots, they chose a Tagore song to mock. It wasn't a random choice; the script had to have been crafted a certain way. I won't go into details about exactly what happened or how, but the way Krushna Abhishek mocked and made gestures about the song 'Ekla Cholo Re' went beyond the bounds of respect and decency, at least in my eyes."
He further noted, "The tone has gone too far this time, so I feel compelled to write this. Having hosted many television shows, I know that not everything an artiste or host says on screen is their own. Even for small shows, a team of writers prepares the script, which dictates much of the show's flow, including portions of the host's or performers' lines."
Kapil Sharma recently transitioned his show from television to Netflix, where it now streams in over a hundred countries and has become the top trending Indian show..
Srijato further claimed, "Given its scale, I am certain that dedicated writers are crafting the show's script, with Kapil Sharma's inputs and approvals. If that's the case, then knowingly or not, they have created something wrong. This post is my clear opposition to their mockery."
He publicly announced that he is formally lodging a complaint and objection to this disrespectful presentation, holding all individuals involved in writing, presenting, approving, and broadcasting that comedic segment accountable.
In Srijato's view, there is a subtle line between comedy and mockery, and when that line becomes blurred, trouble ensues. Without considering what is being said, about whom, and to what extent, people become so dedicated to generating laughter and TRP ratings that they forget their limits.
The Filmfare-winning lyricist also shared, "It is believed by some from other parts of India that they can joke about Bengali thinkers and their works at will. Everything from the Bengali language to its culture is seen as fodder for them. This is precisely why someone like Amogh Leela Das feels emboldened to mock Vivekananda, only to be compelled to apologise when the backlash intensifies. However, during my travels across various parts of India, I have observed that a tendency to jest about everything related to Bengalis is ingrained in many."
Srijato concluded by stating that he wrote the post after consulting one of the top lawyers in the relevant field.
If the poet's demands are not accepted, considered, and fulfilled within a week (by November 7), he will proceed with legal action.
(Source: The Daily Star)
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