Digs on politicians go viral online

Parodies on political ­figures aren’t new, but so many, so ­irreverent and so funny — it looks like a first for social media with the Lok Sabha elections closing up, writes Debasmita Ghosh.

Parodies on political ­figures aren’t new, but so many, so ­irreverent and so funny — it looks like a first for social media with the Lok Sabha elections closing up.

A-spoof-of-Rahul-Gandhi-s-Congress-campaign

Hundreds of rib-tickling, ­in-your-face on the current Indian political scenario are storming the social media sphere, with a handful gone viral and others finding under fire.



From a parody of a ­prominent TV journo’s talk show featuring fictional characters such as Arjun Kejriwal of to the spoof of the Youth Congress’ ­campaign video showing a kid from a certain ‘Dongress’ party, and even caricatures of BJP’s Prime Ministerial ­candidate Narendra Modi lip syncing on Bollywood songs, these ruthless-yet-entertaining ­critiques poke fun at all.

)



While many are lapping up these videos as light-hearted stress busters, some feel that political rivalries are being taken too far. National Students’ Union Of India’s Goa president and the face of the Congress ad, Hasiba Amin, 23, on whom a spoof featuring her kid-lookalike has gone viral, feels that it shows how impactful her ad has been, that the opponent had to get back with something like this: "The girl is really cute but I feel sad that they’ve dragged a kid into such ­political mud-slinging."

Most, however, feel that it’s great to see that India is ­finally learning to laugh at itself.

"All these things should be taken in good stride. Mahatma Gandhi once said, ‘If I didn’t have a sense of humour, I’d have committed suicide’," says social expert Alyque Padamsee.

)



Co-founder, comic collective , Gursimran Khamba, who has created many such says, "People are sick of not being able to bring about change, so for them it’s like a release. Some, of course, think that you’re pro a certain party or have been paid by them to make a parody against their rival." "We expect the trend to continue," says Gautam Anand of YouTube.