What Bollywood taught me today: Maskhare ka khel dhokhe ka khel hota hai
Aamir Khan spoke out on the AIB roast controversy. And when any cinemagoer who has occassionally picked up the newspaper hears this he would assume Aamir would have waxed on eloquent about the freedom of speech and expression. For he is a man who feels that even statutory warnings against cigarette smoking affects the creativity of a film.
When Aamir's movie Delhi Belly raised eyebrows we convinced disapproving aunties and uncles that "bhaag dk bose" is a creative song and that though their toddlers are lisping it banning it is not right. When religious groups protested against his film PK we supported it, saying it has a message that needs to be told.
So it was a little shocking to find out that Aamir Khan, the maker of the path-less-taken cinema we've been picketing for, was "disturbed" by the roast. At a press interaction he declared that "AIB roast was a shameful act". He found it "violent". And "scolded" Karan Johar.
Which brings us to the logical question: Has Aamir Khan been abducted by aliens?
Aamir is entitled to his opinion, and he has every right to go the opposite of "LOL" on it. But when AIB is already down and out and issuing apologies and attending court hearings was it really necessary to condemn the roast more?
We supported Delhi Belly and PK not because we thought they were Citizen Kanes, but because it was a matter of freedom of speech and expression under threat.
It's our collective responsibility to be fortresses of good around the persecuted, not throw stones at them from our ivory towers.
Takeaway: It's difficult to write a funny post when a joke is taken too seriously.