With the evolution of social media humour, growing use of obscenities and shock value has plummeted the level of our public discourse. Comedians like Ranveer Allahbadia have normalised the use of obscenities for the sake of being provocative and ‘cool’. It is now part of our everyday conversation and popular culture, thanks to the media. What was once forbidden is now cheered on.
Sajida A Zubair
THE ongoing controversy over ‘India’s Got Latent’ participant Ranveer Allahbadia’s crass comments has once again brought to the forefront arguments about the ever-evolving nature of entertainment. His overnight negative fame overshadowed others equally talented influencers and platforms that are working for a positive change, questioning the way social media algorithms determine popularity on the basis of trends and not merit. It is a continuation of a larger trend in modern entertainment, where shock value and sensationalism take precedence over depth and quality.
The same is true of reality shows like Bigg Boss, which have also helped lower the standards of human behaviour and language, making aggression, toxic relationships, and derogatory language the norm. Even The Kapil Sharma Show, which began as a clean family-friendly conversation show, has lost its appeal, becoming a double meaning-based show and flirtatious conversation show instead of a witty humour-based show.
Having been brought up under the care and guidance of an Urdu writer and a distinguished poet, we had been taught with utmost care the value of words and the gravity of using them. Every syllable was weighed, and every thoughtless use of a word was firmly corrected. Slang was never a choice; even a widely used harmless expression like “shut up” was disapproved of. No matter what our feelings were, we never used profanity.
This upbringing instilled in us a strong aversion to any word or phrase that fell short of being elegant and meaningful usage. Language to us was a bridge to human comprehension, a valuable gift that set mankind apart from all other animals. Misusing this gift was never a choice, as it was not only a tool of communication but also a gauge of intelligence, culture, and dignity.
Language has always been incredibly powerful, influencing ideas, defining thoughts, and constructing narratives that shape generations. Throughout the centuries, there have been eminent orators and authors who employed language as an instrument to educate, motivate, and bring about change. It has been a mighty instrument of education, communication, and entertainment, which has been changing with the genres.
Comedy is one such genre, in which words have the unique capability of tickling one’s funny bone, challenging conventions, and reflecting the state of society. But today, excessive use of vulgarity is mistaken for cheekiness and populism. It has become a short cut to humour, a trick and not an art. Comedy, which was once defined by wit, satire, and smart humour, has undergone a radical transformation. The rise of comedians who employ excessive profanity, obscenity, and insults has brought about a trend that not only prescribes audience expectations but also degrades the sanctity of language.
With the evolution of humour, use of shock value instead of wit and repartee has lowered the quality of speech. Comedians today, for the sake of being provocative and popular, have normalised use of obscenities, and it is now part of everyday conversation and popular culture. What was once forbidden in public discourse is now cheered on. The most alarming aspect of this evolution is its impact on the youth. Language plays a key role in developing a child’s social and intellectual life.
When profanity becomes normalised by the media, it becomes a part of normal conversation, watering down the habit of employing elevated speech. The ability to convey thoughts with sophistication and decency is on the brink of being overrun by a torrent of profanity and flip obscenity. Also, the charm of language is that it can be funny without the use of crude methods. Greats such as Charlie Chaplin, PG Wodehouse, and India’s Harishankar Parsai were the masters of satire, irony, and one-liners. Their writing has endured because they challenge the intellect and not fleeting laughter with obscenity.
The most frequent argument for this trend is that comedy must be free, that it reflects society, and that people demand realism. But realism does not have to mean debasement. A good joke can be funny without resorting to crudity or offensiveness. The real challenge for comedians today does not have to be to try to push decency to the limits but to make the mundane interesting, the ironies of life, and the richness of human experience.
As Javed Akhtar sharply replied when being grilled on the use of obscenities in humour, “I will tell you something. Odisha, Bihar, and Mexico, wherever there is poverty, people consume a lot of chilli because the food is not tasty. So in order to get some flavour, they consume chilli. Gaali (obscenity) is the chilli of words. If you can speak well and are clever enough, you don’t require this chilli. If the talk is not tasty, you will add some gaalis to it.”
Akhtar’s comment serves as a reminder that good humour does not have to be accompanied by profanity. A joke well-timed, constructed on wit and ingenuity, can be as, if not more, potent as one constructed on dirty words. The over-reliance on vulgarity as a comedic device today is, in itself, a lazy comedy, one that works to undermine the power of language more than to reinforce it.
It is up to artists and audiences to keep language pure. Audiences need to insist on better content, and comedians need to step up to the plate — utilising their skill to push, provoke, and amuse without sacrificing linguistic integrity.
Comedy and satire, used well, are great art forms—and their greatest weapon is language. Let us not waste its brilliance on words that dilute its intention, but use it instead to make people laugh, to be witty, and to make sense in the world. Every word should be said from the heart with the burden of thought, respect, and honesty.
This change in comedic approach is part of a larger movement in entertainment, one in which slang and swearing are becoming ever more normalized in the name of relatability and humour.
In fact, genuine humour does not require profanity. A joke, one that is based on intelligence and cleverness, can be as, if not more, effective than one peppered with swear words. The reliance on vulgarity in contemporary comedy serves as an easy shortcut to humour, one that diminishes the richness of language rather than elevating it.
We as a society need to ask ourselves, ‘Are we okay with bartering the sacredness of language for fleeting belly laughs?’ If comedians keep making vulgarity mainstream, the long-term price will be a culture that celebrates shock above substance, noise above nuance. The onus of upholding the chastity of language is on both creators and audience. Audiences need to expect better, and comedians need to step up, utilizing their art to motivate, stimulate thought, and amuse without sacrificing linguistic integrity.
Comedy and satire, when used with finesse, are great art forms, and their most potent weapon is language. Let us not waste its brilliance on words that undermine its intent, but rather utilise it to bring laughter, wit, and sense to the world. Every word should be spoken from the heart, carrying the weight of thought, respect, and sincerity. As Iqbal famously argued:
Dil Se Jo Baat Nikalti Hai, Asar Rakhti Hai
Par Nahin, Taaqat-e-Parwaaz Magar Rakhti Hai
Words that flow from the heart hold deep sway,
They may lack wings, yet soar all the way.
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Sajida A Zubair, is a journalist, educator and script writer. The views are personal and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stand of Clarion India
