The Great Indian Kapil Show lands in controversy; Bengali poet Srijato accuses Krushna Abhishek of 'disrespecting' Rabindranath Tagore’s Ekla Cholo Re

In the skit, Krushna Abhishek, speaking in broken Bengali, said to Kajol, “Pachla cholo re,” which he intended to mean “walk with five people.”

A recent episode of the popular Netflix comedy program, The Great Indian Kapil Show, has sparked a controversy within the Bengali community. The episode in question featured Kajol and Kriti Sanon, who appeared on the show to promote their new film, Do Patti. During the episode, Krushna Abhishek performed a skit that many Bengalis found offensive, as it seemingly ridiculed Rabindranath Tagore’s revered song, Ekla Cholo Re.

In the skit, Krushna Abhishek, speaking in broken Bengali, said to Kajol, “Pachla cholo re,” which he intended to mean “walk with five people.” Although "Pachla" is not an actual Bengali word, Krushna used it humorously to contrast with the original song’s message of walking alone. Host Kapil Sharma pointed out that the song actually encourages walking alone. In response, Krushna quipped that walking alone might attract stray dogs. The audience then broke into laughter.

This segment of the show did not sit well with many in the Bengali community. Notably, Bengali poet Srijato Bandyopadhyay expressed his disapproval on Facebook, accusing Krushna Abhishek of crossing the line of decency and disrespecting Tagore with his gestures and commentary. “There’s 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,” Srijato wrote.

Srijato criticised the show's writers and producers for allowing such content to air and suggested that the pursuit of high ratings and laughs often leads people to forget the importance of respect and sensitivity.

Srijato’s post also included a warning of potential legal action against The Great Indian Kapil Show if an official apology was not issued within seven days. In response, Krushna Abhishek stated that the intention was never to offend anyone and mentioned that he would consult with the show's creative team to determine the appropriate course of action.

Also read: Kartik Aaryan's mother Mala Tiwari's reaction to Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 selling out is heartwarming, watch video

The controversy has continued to grow, with several prominent figures from the Bengali civil society voicing their objections. Music director Indradip Dasgupta, singer Iman Chakraborty, and director Suman Mukhopadhyay were among those who spoke out against the episode. Furthermore, Bengali nationalist group Bangla Paksha accused the show of harboring an inherent "hatred for Bengalis." Garga Chatterjee, the founder of Bangla Paksha, cited past instances where the show allegedly ridiculed Bengalis and Bengali women.

Chatterjee emphasised that Ekla Cholo Re is not merely a song but a significant patriotic anthem, written in the context of the partition of undivided Bengal in 1905. He argued that any disrespect towards the song equates to disrespecting the entire Bengali community.