JASPAL BHATTI - JUST BE A PAL BUT???

An era in satire came to a crashing halt as the vehicle carrying the inimitable Jaspal Bhatti met with an accident. As ironic as things could get, the tributes to the man were far and few though he was one among the pioneers who attempted to instil a sense of ethics albeit through humour in the large Indian masses. Days when the fifteen minute Ulta Pulta would be eagerly lapped up by the audience led the mandarins of Doordarshan to give him another chance with Flop Show. Bhatti dazzled with his wife and a devoted disciple in tow. The fact that Bhatti was given a second chance despite his biting sarcasm by the all powerful bureaucrats of Doordarshan spoke volumes for the then unknown TRP ratings that he had bagged.

The eyeballs that lusted for his sarcasm quietly betrayed his message by following them on the wrong side. The misdirection has become the direction of the day as productions have been indeed reduced to farces. With multiple channels and breaking news there is none who could match the witty Bhatti. The true tribute to the man would be to be able to change the system for the better. We have had another attempt in Office Office which has a cameo character who specialises in " do baatein ho sakthi hain". This entire serial is another tribute to Bhatti as it has picked on his idea and developed it into a full fledged serial for another channel. Similarly, CNN's Cyrus Broacha would also do well to acknowledge the role Bhatti played in his formative years for the rip roaring " The Week that Wasn't"

The comedians of Bollywood and other tinsel world would definitely agree that Bhatti did an impeccable act in a short span of time but to put it in his inimitable style, the road and the car miscarried him. Ironic Bhatti saab we lack the humour to pay tribute to your departed soul. May your soul be filled with laughter on the plight of these humourless Indians!!! Just be a pal but with your humour intact!!!