AIB Knockout: Who will decide 'entertaining' content, government or audience?

Mumbai: The internet went into a frenzy after YouTube sensation AIB posted their much awaited ‘AIB Knockout: The Roast of Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh’. For the first time in the history of Indian entertainment, we saw the loudest, offensive yet entertaining jokes from our very own stars.

For those of you just joining in, a roast is a form of comedy where a specific individual or individuals are subjected to jokes at their expense intended to amuse the event’s wider audience.

The Knockout which took place last year on December 21, saw Karan Johar along with a panel of comedians and other famous personalities poke fun at Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor, as well as many others in the industry all in the name of charity.

Footage of the two-hour long show was chopped to a one hour segment in three videos posted on AIB’s YouTube channel.

Although AIB had most of us in bawling in laughter, there were a few who begged to differ and called out the channel for their offensive humour. This was followed by Akilesh Tiwari, the president of Brahman Ekta Seva lodging a complain in Mumbai alleging that Karan Johar, Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor passed abusive and offensive remarks against one another and at the audience present at the venue.

Maharashtra Culture Minister Vinod Tawade told reporters that officials of the Culture Department will examine the videos for the content and if found vulgar an action will be initiated.

After the inquiry on the show was announced the Maharashtra Government said it will only check if AIB had secured appropriate clearances for the live show. All this ruckus seemed to have charged up the Twitterati into two teams for and against AIB.

Those in support tweeted “We Stand By AIB Knockout’ and those against tweeted ‘AIB National Shame’. It's interesting to see how one section of the internet appreciates the kind of recognition that stand-up comedy has been getting in India in the recent years, be it just a stand-alone comic entertaining a large crowd or an interactive improv-comedy night.

A few even criticized Deepika Padukone calling her a hypocrite for laughing at the jokes made on the knockout night, but raising her voice during the ‘TOI cleavage’ controversy

Here’s what the netizens of India have to say:

iracist, sexist, frequently rape jokes are not suddenly more legitimate coz you made them for specific people! AIB National Shame

— Sana #PritamPyaare (@SanaJDB) February 3, 2015

So I am following @kamaalrkhan after watching AIB knockout !!! Even he is better !!!!AIB National Shame

— shreya (@Aalukishreya) February 3, 2015

There's A Huge Difference Between Being Abusive & Being Humorous! People Have Got To Understand Such! "AIB National Shame"

— iSalmanAficionado (@BeingIAshish) February 3, 2015

No one forces you to open YouTube and watch d show.. Stop Spreading Hate We Stand By AIB Knockout

— ????? ??j?? ???oo? (@KokOAddict_9) February 3, 2015

Did it insult any religion? Any community? NO! Dey took jokes on themselves and no 1 was forced 2 watch that video. We Stand by AIB Knockout

— Hrithikz Biggest Fan (@piyushizhere14) February 3, 2015

I hope our humour gets sharper, our dissent more rigorous, our satire more offensive, and till we arrive there, We Stand by AIB Knockout!

— Anand Gandhi (@Memewala) February 3, 2015

“@arjunish: We Stand By AIB Knockout READ IT AND TELL IS IT REALLY THT BIG DEAL !! pic.twitter.com/I9YQPeCD8T” #IStandByRanJun

— ArjunKapoorFC (@ArjunKapoorFC) February 2, 2015