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So like millions of others, I laughed at the AIB Knockout Roast of Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh ... and might I add Karan Johar. Not only did I think the roast was good (for a first time effort) but I also applauded the efforts of AIB in trying to introduce the concept of 'roasting' (first started in New York) to India. Progressive India? Yes. Youth centered India? Yes. Offensive India? Huh.
The good thing about blogging is that I can pen down my opinion. I can execute my fundamental right to freedom of speech and speak my heart out. I won't force you to read it. It is up to you to click on my blog article if you deem it interesting. It is up to you to continue reading my article if you deem it further interesting. That is you exercising your freedom of choice.
So essentially I would assume that the same is true for AIB. This is a group that works purely on YouTube. What better way for everyone to exercise their own version of discretion than YouTube? Was the AIB roast launched live on National Television? Were viewers forced to watch it on a prime time channel? Were they taken by surprise? Was your right to discretion violated? I think not! So if I get this straight - folks made a conscious effort to go to YouTube, watch the roast in its entirety, and then comment out loud that this was offensive? To whom? Definitely not to the folks that were being laughed at. They took everything in their stride in an exceptionally good spirit. So this offended you - the viewer that made a conscious choice to go online and watch it?! Interesting.
What irks me the most is that AIB has since then removed the roasting knockout video amid mounting pressures and propagandas for its removal. So much for freedom of speech. So much for progressive India. So much for having a sense of humor. Actually, what do we really expect?! If someone like Aamir Khan who has produced movies like Delhi Belly (which I also loved BTW) and television wonders like Satyamev Jayate can come out with words of disdain for this, then there sure isn't much hope for the rest of us.
So to summarize, here's essentially what India, a country of 1.3 billion, finds offensive and not -
Delhi Belly - Not offensive. ("Oh it was such a laugh riot")
Certain Saas-Bahu serials - Not offensive. ("Oh its just entertainment")
Bigg Boss - Not offensive. ("Oh we love BB")
AIB Roast - Super offensive. ("Take this down now or we come at you with pitchforks")
'Nuff said.
