All India Bakchod Knockout

AIB Knockout

All India Bakchod Knockout promotional poster
Starring AIB
Ranveer Singh
Arjun Kapoor
Karan Johar
Release dates
 28 January 2015

All India Bakchod Knockout (abbreviated as AIB Knockout) is a roast comedy show that was held in Mumbai by All India Bakchod starring Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor as the roast and Karan Johar as the host(roast master). The show, uploaded on YouTube went viral on the site.[1]

The event was held at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium in Worli, Mumbai on December 20 and was uploaded on YouTube on 28 January. The episode, (popularly known as webisode) was made available in three parts; where at the beginning of the first part; viewers are warned about the nature of the video.[2]

On 3 February 2015, AIB Knockout was removed from YouTube by AIB team due to the mounting controversies surrounding the show. While removing, AIB team tweeted, "Have taken down AIB Knockout for now. We will speak soon."[3]

Notable attendees

Criticisms and controversies

Mumbai Police received several complaints about the usage of abusive language. FIR was then filed by Mumbai Police against the organisers for the show without acquiring any performance license.[5] Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis warned about action if the show was found to be vulgar and in violation of law.[6] FIR was filed against 14 persons, including filmmaker Karan Johar and actors Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in Pune as well.[7] A Mumbai court also directed the police to file FIRs against the organisers and prominent participants mainly citing the violation of the Indian Penal code dealing with conspiracy and obscenity.[8]

Salman Khan criticized Karan Johar (despite having not seen the video) for participating in the show, adding especially when his mother was sitting in first row.[9] Sanjay Leela Bhansali also expressed his disapproval to the video as he found it "cheap" wanted to the actors (participants) to behave themselves.[10]

With the show containing several religious comments, AIB Team also offered an unconditional apology to the archdiocese and the Christian community for any offence caused to religious sentiments.[11] The apology came after several Christian organisations filling complaints against the use of insulting jokes on Jesus Christ and Catholics. [12]

Reactions

Many came out in support of AIB and the notion of free speech. The makers of Qtiyapa, The Viral Fever, in a video on YouTube aired their opinions on online democracy, freedom of expression and audiences' liberty to choose from variety of content online.[13]

Russell Peters, an India origin Canadian comedian, panned Aamir Khan‘s criticism to the roast. In reply to Aamir Khan, Peters quoted, "Seriously, who is he, the so-called artist, to say that he found it violent and that AIB and rest involved should have been responsible? He did not even see it! Someone please ask him to shut up and take care of his own business. He is an actor; not even a real artist. He goes in front of the camera and reads out lines that someone else has written. Then, he is giving his opinion about something that is honest!"[14]

In response to Aamir Khan's statements, Anurag Kashyap posted a link on his Facebook page where Aamir had spoken in defence of the DK Bose song from the movie Delhi Belly (produced by Aamir Khan). Aamir had said, "I have already informed my audiences that it is an adult film. Please do not go with your kids and those who have a problem with this kind of language shouldn't come either. I try my best to inform the audiences before-hand. Then they can decide themselves. If the audience is adult, they can decide themselves. So from my end I do all these things for my fans."[15]

Shah Rukh Khan has stated that he would not like to take sides saying that humour has always been a tricky thing and it always generates different reactions.[16]

Comedian-actor Vir Das along with the Comedy Nights With Kapil stars Sunil Grover (popularly known as Gutthi) and Kiku Sharda (known as Palak) have condemned the filing of an FIR against the celebs or makers involved in it. All three of them are of the opinion that the humour may be good or bad, but the freedom of expression should not be restricted.[17]

References

  1. ↑ Sunitra Pacheco (3 February 2015). "AIB knockout: Twitterati divided on Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor’s ‘roast’-ing". The Indian Express. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  2. ↑ Dipti Singh; Rohit Alok (3 February 2015). "AIB Knockout: As video goes viral, Vinod Tawde orders probe into ‘abusive’ content". The Indian Express (Mumbai). Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  3. ↑ Rashmi Mishra (3 February 2015). "AIB Knockout Roast video removed from YouTube for now! Is All India Bak@%&$ Roasted?". Mumbai: India.com. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Gayatri Sankar (3 February 2015). "AIB knockout– Expletives aren’t ‘cool’, ‘funny’ dear celebrities!". Zee News. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  5. ↑ Nithya Nair. "The joke is on AIB Knockout roast: #AIBNationalShame trends on Twitter". 3 February 2015. Mumbai: India.com. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "Action would be taken if 'AIB Knockout' has violated laws: Devendra Fadnavis". Mid Day (Mumbai). Press Trust of India. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "AIB Knockout: FIR against Karan Johar, Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor in Pune". The Indian Express (Pune). 5 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "AIB Roast: Court orders FIR against Ranveer, Deepika, Arjun, Alia, Karan Johar and 9 others". FirstPost.com. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  9. ↑ Sonal Gera; Sarika Sharma (6 February 2015). "AIB Roast: Salman Khan upset with Karan Johar?". The Indian Express (New Delhi). Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  10. ↑ Sonal Gera; Sarika Sharma (27 February 2015). "AIB Knockout: Sanjay Leela Bhansali finds Ranveer Singh’s roast ‘cheap’". The Indian Express (New Delhi). Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "AIB Roast: Comedy group tenders unconditional apology to Christian community". DNA India. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  12. ↑ Anjali Lukose (10 February 2015). "AIB team meets city Christian clergy, says sorry". The Indian Express (Mumbai). Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "No funny business: The Viral Fever and other comedians support AIB Knockout". The Indian Express. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  14. ↑ Sonal Gera; Sarika Sharma. "AIB Roast: Comedian Russell Peters asks Aamir Khan to ‘shut up’". The Indian Express (New Delhi). 17 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  15. ↑ "After Aamir Khans aib roast putdown anurag kashyap reminds us of delhi belly". ABP News. 11 February 2015.
  16. ↑ "AIB Roast: Shah Rukh Khan would not like to take sides in the controversy". The Indian Express (New Delhi). Press Trust of India. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  17. ↑ Subhash K Jha (17 February 2015). "India's comedy actors defend the Roast". Daily News and Analysis (in Mumbai). Retrieved 27 February 2015.