The Great Indian Kapil Show Faces Legal Notice Over Rabindranath Tagore Joke: ‘They Forget To Draw Line’
The Great Indian Kapil Show has landed in legal trouble after a controversial joke made during a recent episode reportedly offended the Bengali community. The show, hosted by Kapil Sharma, faced backlash following a skit that altered Rabindranath Tagore’s iconic song “Ekla Cholo Re”. The Bongo Bhashi Mahasabha Foundation has issued a legal notice to Kapil Sharma over the incident, with some reports suggesting that Bollywood actor Salman Khan may also be implicated. However, Salman Khan’s team has denied any involvement.
The controversy erupted during an episode featuring “Do Patti” stars Kajol and Kriti Sanon. Comedian Krushna Abhishek, in a skit impersonating actor Jackie Shroff, parodied the song “Ekla Cholo Re”, which is considered one of Tagore’s most revered compositions. In a satirical twist, Krushna replaced the word “Ekla” (meaning “alone”) with “Pachla,” implying “walk with five people.” The comedian further joked that walking alone would attract dogs. While the joke elicited laughter from the studio audience, it did not sit well with many from the Bengali community, who felt that it mocked a cultural and literary icon.
Prominent Bengali figures, including poet Srijato Bandyopadhyay, expressed their displeasure over the skit. Bandyopadhyay took to Facebook, condemning the skit and stating, “There is a subtle boundary between humour and mockery, and crossing it can be risky. Often, people disregard whom they are joking about, what they are saying, and how far they go—all in a quest to chase high ratings and make people laugh. They forget where to draw the line.”
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Music director Indradip Dasgupta, vocalist Iman Chakraborty, and filmmaker Suman Mukhopadhyay also joined in condemning the joke, highlighting how it disrespected Tagore’s legacy and the cultural significance of “Ekla Cholo Re”, which is widely cherished in Bengali households.
The Bongo Bhashi Mahasabha Foundation’s legal notice claims that the show has crossed cultural and religious boundaries with the joke, which many see as an affront to Bengali pride and heritage. As of now, the makers of “The Great Indian Kapil Show” and Kapil Sharma have not responded publicly to the notice.
In a separate development, some media outlets falsely reported that Salman Khan, who had previously co-produced the show’s second and third seasons, had also received a legal notice. However, Salman’s team issued a statement denying the claim, clarifying that he is not associated with the Netflix version of the show. “We are not associated with “The Great Indian Kapil Show” on Netflix,” the actor’s representative confirmed to “Times of India”.
The controversy continues to stir debate about the boundaries of humor and the responsibility of comedians in respecting cultural symbols. Fans are awaiting further reactions from the show’s team and the legal proceedings.
