Fate has clearly misdirected this episode of the 'Flop Show'. Jaspal Bhatti, the man who called it a wrap on every episode of his hugely popular comedy shows with gems such as 'Underground Singers', 'Camera Jerks' and 'Jarring Music', was killed in a car crash near Jalandhar while on a promotional tour of his latest film 'Power Cut'.
The Reader's Digest once described Bhatti 'as one of India's most trusted people'. Well, he was. But it wasn't easy for Bhatti to earn that label. He had the unenviable task of keeping an eagle eye on the nation's politics, exposing the chinks through sharp commentary and introspection - taking the sting out of his satire with his brilliant wit.
Assisted by his wife Savita who also acted in his serials, Bhatti fought many constraints - low budget, poor production quality and access to quality actors who would work for a pittance. His humour was clean, understated and dignified - fitting neatly into a 2-3 minute capsule on DD news.
It was a two minute stand up section with a 20 second skit on the same subject. The capsule, 'Ulta Pulta', was the Hindi version of his topsy-turvy grasp of rampant corruption and the humour in everyday life.
Bhatti began his stint with the Tribune newspaper in 1982 as a cartoonist with a column 'Oddly Speaking' on social malaise. He remained with the paper for five-six years before specialising in television stand-up, one of India's first in this field.
Equally popular was his 'Flop Show' that changed TV's TRP game in the 90s. Each episode started with a lengthy skit and wrapped up with a parody. The credits of the show were nothing Indian audiences had ever seen. Bhatti poked fun at the world, but first, he parodied himself with opening credit that said 'Misdirected by Jaspal Bhatti', 'Underground Singers', 'Camera Jerks' and 'Jarring Music' and 'Over Actors'.
The actors - Jaspal Bhatti himself, wife Savita and Vivek Shauq - became household names for their poker face acts. He went on to write and direct two more shows - 'Full Tension' and 'Thank You Jija Ji'. His 'Nonsense Club' was India's first humour club. The street plays enacted through this club would draw attention to social evils.
His foray into cinema started in 1996 with his Punjabi feature film 'Mahaul Theek Hai' in Chandigarh that parodied the police. Since then he has acted in several films, including Mausam (2011), Fanaa (2006), Kuch Naa Kaho (2003), Tujhe Meri Kasam (2003), Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe (2002), Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai (2000), Kartoos (1999), Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999) and Jaanam Samjha Karo (1999).
He was promoting his film 'Power Cut' - a Punjabi comedy which will be released on October 26 when he met with the fatal accident. Power Cut is produced by P&R Films in association with Mad Arts, Jaspal Bhatti Film School.
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