Srijato threatens legal action against Kapil's show over disrespect of Rabindra Sangeet
Indian poet-filmmaker Srijato Bandyopadhyay claimed on his social handle that Rabindranath Tagore was disrespected in the popular sketch comedy talk programme "The Great Indian Kapil Show".
Yesterday, he expressed his rage on Facebook and alleged that actress Kajol, a Bengali by descent, appeared on an episode of the Kapil Sharma show as a part of the promotional campaign for her latest Netflix show "Do Patti". Taking advantage of her Bengali heritage, one of the show's comedians, Krushna Abhishek, misrepresented Tagore's song, "Ekla Cholo Re" in the episode she appeared in.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. 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."
"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," he further noted.
Recently, Kapil Sharma moved his show from television to Netflix, where it now airs in over a hundred countries and is currently 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 announced publicly that he is formally lodging a complaint and objection against this disgraceful presentation; he holds everyone 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.
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