Abhigyan Jha, a prolific writer behind films like Krishna Cottage and creator of popular shows such as Movers & Shakers, Jay Hind!, Qubool Hai 2.0, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and Janani – AI Ki Kahani, recently shared his thoughts with us about his iconic show Movers & Shakers, which was hosted by Shekhar Suman.
He reflected on how the show, which humorously took jabs at public figures from all walks of life, was widely appreciated because it focused on truths already in the public domain rather than indulging in gossip. He strongly believes that India is far more tolerant than it’s often made out to be, citing the show’s success as evidence that the audience embraced humor without taking offense.
In an engaging conversation with Downtown Mirror Weekly, Abhigyan Jha reflected fondly on Movers & Shakers (1997), a show that aired in 1998, and addressed the common misconception that India is a sensitive country. “It’s a myth that India is a sensitive country. In fact, ours is the most tolerant country that exists,” he asserted, adding, “When we launched Movers & Shakers, we were told there were no shows like it. It became a massive hit, with audiences tuning in from Malabar Hill to Jharkhand. The show transcended all communities, regions, and social strata, and it reached such a wide audience. If people from all over the country could watch a show like that, how can anyone say that India is sensitive?”
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He continued, “We were the first to take direct jabs at politicians by name, and yet not a single case was filed against us. The jokes we made about prominent figures, like Lalu Prasad Yadav, were taken in good spirit. He found them funny and was very fond of Shekhar. Sushma Swaraj, who was the Information and Broadcasting Minister at the time, even appeared on our show. She admitted, ‘Sometimes, I get offended, Shekhar, but my Prime Minister laughs at your jokes, so I can’t really do anything about it.’ That speaks volumes. Many politicians came on the show, and not a single one objected to anything we said.”
Though the show pushed boundaries, he emphasized that they did practice self-censorship. He shared, “We always ensured that the jokes had a basis in actual news, things that were already public knowledge. If it was something private, something that hadn’t been reported or made public in the media, we didn’t touch it.”
He also spoke about the role of comedians in society, stressing that their job is not to report the news, but to comment on it. He opined, “A comedian’s job is not to report the news, but to offer a perspective on it. We don’t create the news; we highlight a different side of it. Because of this, no one could sue us — we didn’t invent anything. We merely offered a humorous take on what was already out there.”
The producer believes that a good comedian must always be self-aware. Commenting on the recent controversy involving Ranveer Allahbadia, he remarked, “There’s a way to make a joke while knowing you’re above it. A crass joke from a crass person is different from a crass joke told by someone who knows how to contextualize it.”
Abhigyan’s insights offer a refreshing take on the evolution of Indian television and comedy, demonstrating that humor, when done right, can be both entertaining and socially relevant.
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