Rubbing the wrong way

Tanmay Bhat seems to be inviting the wrath of many for his recent video titled Sachin v/s Lata Civil War, where he is seen taking jibes at the 86-year-old melody queen, Lata Mangeshkar, and Sachin Tendulkar, 43, who is a cricket legend. Some of the punch-lines used against Mangeshkar in the video include, “Jon Snow also died, so should you; your face looks like someone has kept you in water for eight days.” Bhat, who is part of the All India Bakchod comedy group, has been using the video-sharing app Snapchat to disseminate his views, thoughts and opinions. Sachin vs Lata Civil War was made in the wake of recent news articles comparing Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. He also refers to a comment former cricketer Vinod Kambli has denied making, claiming Kohli is ten times better than Tendulkar. The Mumbai police has asked the internet service providers to block the All India Bakchod member’s video, and is investigating the complaint.

Here is a list of people he offended:

The Shiv Sena: “I guess Tanmay Bhat and all involved in such actions (making fun of Sachin Tendulkar and Lata Mangeshkar) are sick. These people should be whipped in public,” Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told ANI.

Shirish Kunder: Talking to Dawood is better than Tanmay Bhatt's unfunny jokes: Shirish Kunder. The 43-year-old filmmaker took to his Twitter handle to repost ANI's tweet on ‘AIB' and wrote alongside, “This should teach #TanmayBhat a lesson. Better to talk to Dawood than crack unfunny jokes.” “Special Branch is inquiring into the complaint against AIB: DCP, PRO Mumbai Police #TanmayBhat,” read ANI's tweet. Again, sharing a leading daily's tweet in support of Censor Board chief Pahlaj Nihalani, Farah Khan's husband wrote, “Arresting is not enough, #TanmayBhat should be hanged till death. Cracking unfunny jokes is serious crime!” “Banning is not enough, #TanmayBhat should be arrested: Censor Board chief #PahlajNihalani,” read the daily's tweet.

Nationalist Congress Party: Nationalist Congress Party preferred to take a rather direct approach: Party members actually set fire to effigies of Tanmay Bhatt.

Besides, he has also received flack from Anupam Kher, Sonam Kapoor and other celebrities who have been tweeting about him.

We tried to debate over the issue:

A joke is a joke

We are our fellow beings and we have all the right to make fun of each other. A few people in India enjoy a God-like status and treatment and have ardent lovers, who won’t lose faith in them, come what may! So, how possibly could a joke tarnish the image of such popular celebrities? I look at this as intolerance of sorts that extended from religion and other spheres to Lata ji and Sachin. Also, this is about Sachin and Lata Mangeshkar, who should be the ones taking offence to the jokes shot at them; who are we to take offence?

Daljit Ami, documentary filmmaker

It’s seriously not funny

What kind of a joke is this? Somebody who has been asked to die will not come and say, “Thank you, for your advice, but I am not going to die.” This is not funny. Any comment about a person’s looks, age, or physical deformity, can be taken with a pinch of salt, but that happens when we are all at par or friends with them, not to someone who is of your grandmother’s age. Look at the statement in question! He wrote that on snapchat at 3 am, and who put it on the internet? I don’t find a joke in this, but I do find a good business strategy, where you’ll get more hits to have names like Sachin and Lata, on your video, thus more money.

Archana R Singh, professor, School of Communication Studies, Panjab University.

— As told to Amarjot Kaur