When does a joke turn offensive? City stand-ups weigh in

Recently, the co-founder of the comedy group All India Bakchod, Tanmay Bhat, put up a video on his Facebook page, where he used Snapchat���s face-swap filters to simulate a conversation between Sachin Tendulkar and Lata Mangeshkar. Why was the video controversial, despite the fact that it disappeared from Snapchat in 24 hours (like everything else)? Because it featured the legends dissing one another.Titled ���Sachin vs. Lata Civil War���, the video has irked the public, politicians and the film community alike, so much so, that a certain political party has threatened to file an FIR against him. So, is this just a general overreaction by everyone? Where should comedians draw the line (assuming there is a line, of course), when it comes to making fun of/spoofing people? This is what comedians in the city have to say���
Bosskey
The idea is to make fun, I agree. But it doesn���t have to reach India versus Pakistan levels. It should be like a Tom & Jerry show, where you fight and mock, but at the same it���s laughable and enjoyable. This doesn���t mean that I have not taken on celebrities, but I have always ensured that whatever I say on stage, is enjoyed by the audience. The moment I get an indication that they aren���t finding it amusing, I quickly move on to another joke. I love to make fun of Velu Naicker or Baasha, but I always respect Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. To take on someone like Lataji, and then make fun of her looks ��� is in poor taste. Ragging or stand-up comedy can extend as far as the target is also enjoying the prank, not when it exceeds that limit. Since we know how much the country loves both, Lataji and Sachin, the person who did the video should have been careful. She���s a legendary singer; you could have made fun on her voice now that she���s become old, but not her looks. But then, I must also mention that people in India have very low tolerance level for jokes.

Karthik Kumar
Who are we to draw lines of what is laughable and what is not? And if that is so, how do we know when and how is Tanmay crossing that line? I would understand if Sachin and Lataji get offended by this video. But I really don���t understand those ranting on social media. What has Tanmay done that is illegal here? The spirit of parody lies in the spoof. It is absurd when people take it too seriously. If you find it funny, laugh. If you don���t, just move on. Today, people get offended easily. If I send an offensive joke to someone, the maximum they will do is block me, not call out to the nation and bring an establishment down. As artistes, we are subjected to both praise and abuse. But you can���t tell us what we can do and what is not allowed. I am sure both Sachin and Lataji don���t have time for all this, and hence, it was all just a colossal waste of national energy! I don���t get one point ��� on whose behalf are all these people fighting? Plus, (laughs) I really want to know how Sachin feels about this right now.

Badava Gopi
This type of comedy will not suit our country. Using foul language might work with a few people, but not with all. And when you are taking on celebrities like Sachin and Lataji, you have to be all the more careful. How can he even mock celebs of their stature? Is this what you want people from other country to watch? If you don���t respect your own people who have achieved so much in their respective careers, what will people from other countries think? This is not funny! I have made fun of several celebs, but I know where to draw the line. This looked more like a publicity stunt. He was just trying to get more viewership. He definitely needs to be warned.

Vivekh
You can criticise people���s work, a concept, an idea, or someone���s performance ��� you shouldn���t make personal comments on people. There is a thin line between making jokes that hurt a person and looking at things in a funny manner. I have joked about Anirudh���s weight at one of the audio launches of his film right in front of him. I said, ���He���ll hardly be four or five kilos.��� But I immediately credited his work as a musician. I spoke about how popular he���s become and his songs becoming chartbusters. Making fun of his weight was only done to bring about some laughter. That���s where you need to draw the line. You shouldn���t go overboard hurting the person. But filing an FIR and taking a simple issue to the next level is a waste of time. People today are in the attention-seeking mode. See what happened to the Beep Song? People have forgotten about it. You shouldn���t give it too much importance, too.

Bhargav Ramakrishnan
The backlash seems similar to what All India Bakchod faced over the roast they did with Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor, except that Tanmay alone is facing the flak this time. I think Indians are an easily excited lot. It is first of all a video, which is not meant to last for more than 24 hours, and here we are, still talking about the video even after three days! The irony is right there. As comedians, we should be accountable for what we say. Never say something you cannot say with conviction. If you say something with utmost conviction and you truly believe in it, then the whole comedian circle will back you up. That is what is happening with Tanmay, too. With regard to comedians drawing the line when it comes to jokes, I feel that the line needs to be fixed by the comedian himself before he makes the joke. Once someone takes offence to something he has said, then the line cannot be fixed. It cannot become adhoc. Something I tell myself all the time is a line from my favourite comedian Jimmy Carr: Offence is never given, it is always taken.

Vaidhya Sundar
The personalities on whom the jokes were made on haven���t complained or filed a case. Everybody has a different sense of humour ��� some like adult jokes, some like PJs, some like fart jokes... I love Tanmay, but in this case, he could���ve cut down on the abuse. Comedians in India don���t need to draw a line, because it is drawn for them. People are waiting to get offended. Status messages have now become rants about what each one thinks and then they start picking up a fight over their opinion on somebody���s opinion. I think there is a secret cult called ���the outragers��� who are just waiting to pounce on something. Social media has become a warzone today. Right now, being a comedian is scary because when I write a joke, I have to go through the checklist of things which will include questions like: Is it something that will provoke the feminazis? Is it anti-national? Does this hurt religious sentiments? Does this offend a particular caste? Does this offend the carpet on the floor? It is easy to question and file cases against comedians who are just trying to make you laugh. No one questions the politicians who promised you a better nation or the system that is so screwed! Apparently face swapping is equivalent to morphing and so it���s a cyber crime punishable by law. Now, who allowed Snapchat into our country? Better ban 24/7 news and the internet. Let���s go back to the times when your wall had a simpler meaning!