The app can create a spoof of any person by replacing the original voice-over of their video with a satire.
In the absence of dissent and choked political space over past many centuries, Kashmiris have been used to vent emotions through satire and other creative means. Two such performing arts have been the Kashmiri folk theatre Bande Pather and Ladishah — both targeting political, social and cultural vandalism. The Ladishah involved peculiar rhythm coupled with situational sarcastic lyrics. While both these arts are on the verge of extinction, a group of young professionals are now taking it forward, marrying creative art of political satire with technology.
A make-a-voice-over-parody app, MadLipz.com, sparing none — right from separatist leaders to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to US President Donald Trump — is making waves in the entertainment-starved Valley. The parody app, which can be downloaded from any on-line app stores, has taken the social media by storm. The app can create a spoof of any person by replacing the original voice-over of their video with a satire. "It is easy to use, and can be accessed through any smart phone," said Nasir Abbas, an IT expert.
Sample this: Spoofs changed the narration of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un into one on stone-pelting in the Valley, that too in Kashmiri language. Similarly, scores of spoof videos, ridiculing Hurriyat leaders for their strike calls, the ministers and other government dignitaries, have popped up on the social media, creating ripples.
"People are now finding very creative and alternative means to vent their emotions. Madlipz is one of them," said Khurram Parvez, prominent human rights defender and programme coordinator of Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society. However, there are others who find the spoofs as uncivil and against the ethos of Kashmiri society at large.
"To me it is uncivil. If you want to be sarcastic, create characters to reflect your feelings. Putting it on the face of anybody, be it political, religious or other leaders, would give a chance for others to do the same on you. Then there will be no end to it," said Shakeel Qalandar, a senior member of the Kashmir Centre for Social and Development Studies (KCSDS), an influential civil society group.
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