DesiDabba - Boss, Thoda Sa Roomani Ho Jaye

Tickle My Funny Bones Mr. Bhatti

I find it really strange, on one hand we have television channels popping new serials or as in some cases continuing with the never-ending sagas on family conflicts that they have completely ignored one of the greats of Indian Television - Mr. Jaspal Bhatti.

It’s like even while writing his name I am not able to control the tiny hinge of laughter on my face, such is his influence. A graduate from Punjab Engineering College started of with performing street plays in Chandigarh with some of his friends. His hold on humor and amazing comic timing was enough to make us laugh even while maintaining a flat-tapela expression.

Jaspal Bhatti along with his equally funny half, Sawita Dadyala made room for their very first appearance in Ulta Pulta on National Television in February 1986. The show was not only unique in terms of storyline but also in its conceptualization - even the ending credits were up-side-down. This show could easily throw even a hard-hearted fool into pangs of laughter.

Long before Pankaj Kapur (another fine actor) created a laugh-riot with his interpretation of a common man’s problems in tele-series Office Office, it was Japal Bhatti who made a much huger impact with his mis-direction called Flop Show during the good old Doordarshan days. And his source of inspiration was nothing else but the un-dying state of corruption in our society.

Good Old Doordarshan Days

If given a choice I am sure the desi-audience would prefer watching the re-runs of Flop Show and Bhatti’s classic antics any given day over the saas-bahu nataks we are subjected to every bloody night. I mean who can forget him as the un-moralistic halwai, giving his staff instructions to stuff the rotting potatoes into samosas and sell them off or as the officer suspended on corruption charges, toiling in jail yet confident that he can win elections of the same office and earn even better than before or as the Government official for whom the snacks to be served at a meeting form the most essential item on the agenda.

After having two very successful stints on television, Jaspal decided to try his luck on the big screen with his Punjabi feature film, Mahaul Theek Hai in 1999. The film was a comic spoof on Indian police and their interaction with criminals, starring himself as corrupt SSP police officer along with the likes of Raj Babbar, Daljit Kaur and Kulbhushan Kharbanda. Such was his loyalty towards comedy that he decided to premier his directorial debut no where else but in Tihar Jail and even managed to obtain the consent of the Director-General Prisons, in this regard. The criterion for distributing passes was also unusual but Bhatti style - Apart from Tihar Jail inmates, all others who have spent at least six months in any jail were entitled to a free pass at the premiere show.

Since then he has acted in many Bollywood films such as Aa Ab Laut Chalen, Janam Samjha Karo, Kuch Na Kaho and more recently film Fanaa but none good enough to make use of this immensely talented individual.

Agree there have been a few noteworthy shows in the same genre for instance The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, Great Indian Comedy Show, Kaun Banega Champu and Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai. But somewhere they lack that raw comic appeal which Jaspal Bhatti and his gang of brilliant actors were able to pull off with their role-playing and trademark-walla simle, every week on our home screens.

If I were a tele-producer and wanted to make it to the TRP top then without any doubts Jaspal Bhatti would be my means to do so - sadly the real ones think differently.

YouTube Zindabad : Here is a look at one of Flop Show’s rib-tickling song.