Censor Board official Ashoke Pandit calls Tanmay Bhat’s spoof on Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar ‘anti-India’ in his tweet, later deletes it. However, CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani demands comedian’s immediate arrest
Tanmay Bhat from All India Bakchod has sparked yet another controversy with his latest spoof on legends Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar. In the video, created by using face-swap features of popular mobile app Snapchat, Lata and Sachin can be seen taking potshots at each other while discussing cricketer Virat Kohli. The topic of conversation covers if ‘Virat is better than Sachin’. Some dialogues mocking Lata’s wrinkled face and age have agitated Bollywood celebrities and politicans, with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) even filing FIR against the comedian.
While all this is happening, Censor Board of Film Certification’s member Ashoke Pandit compared the video to anti-national activities. In his tweet, he said he couldn’t spot difference between anti-India slogans raised in JNU and this spoof video. However, before we could capture the tweet, Pandit deleted it from his Twitter timeline.
In a series of other tweets that are still available, the Censor Board member has defined Bhat’s video as an element of of cultural terrorism.
The video by @thetanmay is a classic example of #CulturalTerrorism in the name of humour & FOE. #TanmayRoasted
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) May 30, 2016
A report by Deccan Chronicle has also quoted CBFC chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani asking for Bhat’s arrest. “Banning this character (Tanmay Bhat) in Maharashatra is not enough. Lataji and Sachin Tendulkar don’t belong to Maharashtra only, they are a part of every Indian’s life. This fellow has insulted every Indian. He should be arrested immediately without any further delay and dealt with severely. Doing this two institutions who have devoted their lives to doing our country proud…shame!” he has been quoted as saying.
Singer Sonu Nigam has also called the video sinful in his tweet.
To speak about any woman wth such indignity, is a sin. & this is Lata Mangeshkar. Hope Karma doesn’t do d same to their own Mothers. Prayers
— Sonu Nigam (@sonunigam) May 29, 2016
Watch the video here and share your reaction!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESl93kGl9D4
