Screen stereotypes are so unfunny

Exper view
Aatish Kapadia

The stereotypes depicted on television on cinema are far from real. The regional flavour they try and create is a figment of someone's imagination. Parsis are nowhere like their stereotype. The same goes for Gujaratis who are just shown eating festive delicacies the whole day. Catholics are don't spend their whole day drunk or dancing or singing. What it shows is a lack of observation powers.

I don't even find these stereotypes funny. Most people who watch these shows don't know any better so they laugh at them but those who are discerning will find it all quite irritating. We cannot laugh at ourselves so we lampoon other communities. I mean why should Sindhis be obsessed with papads? And no middle class Gujarati would speak with that ridiculous accent. For 50 years now we have shown all south Indians wearing lungi and saying aiyayayo. How obvious can we get?

In serials I have scripted most often Gujaratis are portrayed as central characters. Khichdi, Baa Bahoo aur Baby and Jasuben Jayantilal ki Joint Family can be defined as authentic portrayal of the community. Hum Log way back in the 80s was a serial that portrayed the quintessential North Indian family so beautifully.

Banegi Apni Baat was a good representation of the urban middle class. Saans was very true to its ethos but never over the top. Ek Chabi hai Pados Mein has a convincing regional flavour. The various characters of a Sardar, Muslim, and Gujarati were done with care and seemed believable. The moment a scriptwriter turns lazy and incorporates a tried and tested stereotype the banality shows on the screen.

Aastish Kapadia is the creator the acclaimed serial Baa Bahu aur Baby