File photos of Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor and Karan Johar. PHOTOS: REUTERS
MUMBAI: A day after the Maharashtra government and Mumbai police initiated a probe into allegations of "abusive and filthy" language having been used by Bollywood personalities at an AIB Roast event in Mumbai, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) here Tuesday demanded an apology from all the persons involved in it.
AIB Roast is a charity event which took place here in December 2014. A collection of over Rs.4 million was raised via the two-hour comic event, the edited version of which was posted on AIB's YouTube page Jan 28.
MNS Chitrapat Sena chief Ameya Khopkar said videos of the event - featuring Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar and actors Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh - in Mumbai last December have gone viral.
Khopkar, contending that the content of the programme was totally contrary to Indian culture and decency, demanded an "unconditional public apology" from all those involved in, failing which his organisation would not allow their movies to be screened.
Also, the MNS said that it would not allow Johar, Arjun and Ranveer's movies to be screened if they do not apologise.
Following complaints on the below-the-belt contents of the programme viewed by a 4,000-strong live audience in a city stadium, Education and Culture Minister Vinod Tawde ordered a probe Monday evening.
"The Culture Department officials shall examine the videos' content and if found vulgar, action would be initiated," Tawde said.
"Initial investigations indicate that the show was performed without a proper performance licence. We will register an FIR against them. Such vulgarity is a crime and, based on facts which will emerge, the government will file a case against them," Tawde said.
Similarly, an NGO, Brahman Ekta Seva Sansthan, lodged a complaint with the Saki Naka police expressing umbrage at the programme hosts who used abusive, offensive remarks loaded with sexual overtones during the comedy show.
In a detailed four-page complaint, Sansthan president Akhilesh Tiwari demanded action not only against Johar, Singh and Kapoor but also the show organisers and others.
Clips of the videos, which leaked out, were uploaded and went viral on various social networking sites and YouTube.
Tiwari contended that the the language used in the show was extremely abusive and ruined the fair image of Indian women and culture and also misguided today's youngsters.
The videos showed the crowd - which included several leading female Bollywood actors like Sonakshi Sinha, Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt besides a fair number of the women audience - enjoying, cheering, whistling and clapping at the offensive language blatantly mouthed by the trio of Johar, Arjun and Ranveer.
AIB stands for All India Bakchod, which comprises a team of stand-up comedians.
Video removed
The controversial video, which went viral since being posted on January 28, has been taken down from video sharing website YouTube.
The official Twitter handle of the comic group AIB posted: "Have taken down AIB Knockout for now. We will speak soon."
Celebrities respond
The negative reactions to the AIB Roast's humour has left a majority of Hindi film celebrities upset, and they have taken to Twitter to laugh off the matter.
Actor Sandhya Mridul wrote: "Chalo #AIBRoast off You tube. Sab khush? Now let's start scrutinising and punishing all those who use bad words. EVERYONE. ANYWHERE. ANYTIME."
Screenwriter Milap Zaveri supported the comic group, and posted: "Corruption, poverty, illiteracy, there r enough serious issues to tackle. Why target laughter? #AIBRoast n @AllIndiaBakchod we stand by you."
Another actor, Shruti Seth questioned "if the organisers of #AIBRoast flouted any rules, how were they allowed to perform."
"So the authorities were complicit in this 'vulgar' act? Don't let the moral police win. Next they'll come after our thoughts. #AIBRoast must be allowed back on YouTube (sic)," Shruti shared with her fans on the micro-blogging website.
Writer Chetan Bhagat argued if the event can be probed for abusive language, then the government "will also need to probe every college hostel in this country".
Filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who did not find the programme amusing, still supported the group's freedom of speech, and tweeted: "Watched AIB knockout and did not find it funny. So what? It is their prerogative to poke fun at each other and to put it on public domain."
COMMENTS (14)
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@Gp65: Then remov it away from youtube and start telecasting it on TV and give it A rating . Or if there is any such thing like " watch this vedio on youtube by checking your local time " then put that constraint on this youtube vedio .
@Gp65... thanks. You said what I wanted to say.
@Riya... instead of asking Karan Johar to do what he wants in his house, is it not more convenient if you could shut down your internet, cable TV etc and watch DVDs of Holy epics and raise your children in a holy environment.... So that people like me can enjoy life and have some laugh before we die.
Binfer makes video sharing very easy. More video sharing.
@Stranger: @Stranger- it was on youtube. Why would it need a censor rating. It was not shown on TV at all, before 22:0 p, after 22:00 or anytime at all. Why did you watch the show by the way? In the first few minutes itself it was clear where it was headed?
@Riya: Sorry Riya. Adult content being performed is not against the law. The YouTube video made it very clear that the performance was adult. In the show, there were no kids, only adults. So your concern is not relevant.
I do not care for foul language so I stopped watching after a few minutes. Anyone on youtube could do the same. In any case threats by MNS to block screening of movies are plain and simple bullying and it should be stopped.
If some people do not like foul language (i do not) then they should not watch it. They cannot impose their sensibility on others who may very well enjoy it. You (and i ) have a right to be offended. We do NOT have a right o not be offended. In other words, people do not need to tip toe around our sensitivities. Freedom of expression comes into question precisely when sensibilities are offended. For motherhood and apple pie statements, no freedom of expression is required.
This was on YouTube . People did not have to watch it. MNS is desperately trying to stay relevant after the shellacking in last election. The complaint has been registered as law requires but nothing is going to come out of it because no law was broken.
@Joker: Don't be silly. Why are you dragging religion into everything? In any case Indian Muslims are Indian how and why can they be deported to Pakustan which has nothing to do with them? As and when actors like Saif and Salman have been charged with violating the law, they are tried by the Indian law like any other Indian. No one is silly enough to ask for their deportation.
@Rajesh: If you are talking about mature content,voilence, bloodshed in movies that censor board gives A to watch in theatre, then you very well know it's not allowed for bellow 18. If you are talking about "adult-adult" movies then it's run illegally, like every country. Govt can't police everything on streets. File a case if you find one. "Need to login to gmail account to verify age" what about 4000 families and kids in the audience? And where will it end if we start such a trend today like that? Don't we some social responsibility as citizens? Raising money for charity by using foul language is ok to you? Freedom of expression has limits. If one wishes too be so liberal, express himself at his own home. @khan "this is what you get when you imitate west". No it's not that, This is liberals who think we can talk anything in a democracy under freedom of expression and humour Embrella. And people who don't like it can shut their ears or they are right wingers. As Karan Johar said "not your cup of tea, don't drink it" Karan should drink his tea at his own home or his parties. No one would object it. But on public place, public norms matters.
Imagine if a Muslim artist was involved, they would have demanded his deportation to Pakistan.
There are so many adult movies running in mumbai and also in youtube. Does that not hurt anybody's culture? Why MNS is not protesting against that? Since in this case big bollywood stars are involved, they are sure of publicity, thats it.
This is what you get when you imitate the west in everything.
It was filthy but extremely funny. Come on guys, it is not compulsory. It did not come on TV. It was in youtube with Strict "A" warning and needs to log in thru gmail account to verify age.
It is like watching an adult comedy movie like American Pie. Those who dont like it dont watch, those who like it, enjoy. Life is short, no need to take it too seriously.
I agree. it was filled with filthy language and vulgar actions, legal action should be taken
Sorry I watched a few scenes and It SURELY is vulgar and with no censor rating . This sould be given an A cert and telecast only after 2200 on TV .
Speaking maximum amount of filthy abusive language for continues number of minutes to raise charity? Kjo were do you get such bizzare ideas for competition. Why not slog a bit in mumbai doing positive stuff/hard labour to raise money for charity like Ranbir Kapoor did? Maharastra govt did right filing case. Neither did they have permission/licence for such an event at standium. Nor was this family show one bit.
Sena means an army, right?