Being Tanmay!

Tanmay Bhat - an overly obese homosapien who has to be airlifted from one venue to another, a potato who has difficulty lifting his own bum from the seat, the modern day version of Gabbar who moms use to threaten their kids with – ‘So jaa puttar varna Tanmay tujhpe baith jaayega!’

Thats an introduction the AIB way. That’s how these standup comedians praise and Roast each other and every other human.

A similar Roast on Sachin and Lata would’ve been okay but asking an 86 year old lady ‘to die’ is so not cool dude! It does tend to cross the line. A comedian pokes fun at everybody, moreso takes digs at celebs. That’s his daana paani folks. Plus legends like these are way above insults and insensitive jokes thrown at by comedians anyway. Nonetheless its important to respect that thin borderline between funny and an outright gaali. Especially cos its not mutual, ala Ranveer Arjun Roast.

All of you know what I’m talking about. Its been all over the social media last week. However crude (and humourless) as it may be, freedom of expression is one of the pillars of a democracy. And threats that Tanmay’s act have invited are not very encouraging. Especially so in today’s day and age, where each one of us, with an unlimited net pack and fokat ka access to social media, is a mini standup comedian by himself.

If the subzi served at home can be a point of debate in our lives on a daily basis, how can a topic involving two of the country’s biggest superstars not have two sides. In fact it had all the right elements to become a controversy. But what it should have led to is intellectual debates, not aggressive manhandling warnings.

For all such political parties who seem to have forgotten where they could utilise their excess energy, here’s a quick reminder of issues which warrant attention. Issues where BEING TANMAY is a must, and by 'Tanmay' I mean 'engrossed', not offensive!

Loveology Mein First, Baaki Sab Mein Fail ….

     73 Manipur Govt schools have recorded a zero pass percentage in this year’s Std 10 examinations. How does that sound? How could it even be possible! Bhai, it requires stupendous amount of efforts by teachers and not to forget, a high level of sincerity and clean non-corrupt state of affairs in the education department.

Now We See Them, Now We Don’t! ….

      Picture the scene. There you are, in the sultry heat with hundreds of other fellow passengers, waiting to get inside an already overcrowded train. And suddenly, dhaddaang! And splish splash, of filthy water! You find yourself inside a drain! That’s exactly what happened at Vasai railway station, where a drain slab caved in, injuring at least 15 passengers. This couldn’t have been possible without the incessant work and struggles of the railway authorities and the municipal corporation.

Munnabhais of Bihar ….

     Political science is about cooking, the state topper in Arts said. And questions about periodic table and electrons were answered with anything but panache by the Science topper. Such is the influence of cinema on us Indians that we feel sorry for Sanju baba, even after he has cheated and forged degrees. And some get so inspired that they implement it in their daily lives, with brazen shamelessness.

Tum Muje Khoon Do ….

     And HIV bhi! Yep, you read that right. More than 2000 cases of HIV through unsafe blood transfusion have been revealed in response to one RTI application. This was over a period of 17 months. But mind you, these were the numbers based on reporting, so there could be more. Such a big humanitarian act does deserve applause and appreciation. Special thanks to NACO, the National Aids Control Organisation


The Mr. India Act ....

     A Govt. land worth Rs 40 crores was sold for less than 4 crores by the Revenue Minister of Maharashtra to the dharampatni and jamaai. And when the charge was made public, all the relevant documents conveniently disappeared from the Revenue Department. Mogambo khush hua!

I’ve listed only five, but every walking soul knows there are so many more. There is absolutely no dearth of issues where such astounding level of vigour could be deployed. And as far as Tanmay is concerned, someone just needs to splash some water on his face and wake him up from comedy slumber!

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