Delhi's air purifier filter turns black! A grim 'Mera Desh Badal Raha Hai' moment

A 30‑second clip of a man scrubbing a once‑white air‑purifier filter into a charcoal‑black slab has gone viral, sparking a mix of shock, dark humour and finger‑pointing across social media. Shared by Instagram user Devanshu, the video now racks up 12.8 million views, with the tune “Mera Desh Badal Raha Hai” playing in the background—a bitter pun on the city’s worsening pollution crisis.

In the footage, the filter is caked in a thick, soot‑like layer, turning what should be a light‑gray mesh into a night‑time shade.

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A post shared by Devanshu (@idevaanshu)

The stark visual has ignited a frenzy of reactions:

“It was the government’s fault, not people’s fault,” a comment read. Another reacted, “Air purifier needed purification,” while a third wrote, “Soon air purifier warranties will auto‑void if used in Delhi.”

The black filter is a snapshot of a city choking on its own exhaust, construction dust and seasonal stubble burn. As one user put it, “Blaming everything on the country as if you all are following each and every rule they’ve made. Like bhai, civic sense seekhane koi sarkar nai aaegi!”