A day before India celebrates its 72nd Independence Day, popular YouTube group The Comedy Factory’s ‘This is Hindustan’ is everything the desi Internet could ask for.
Inspired by Childish Gambino’s ‘This Is America’, ‘This is Hindustan’ (not to be mistaken with the earlier released parody titled ‘This is India’) lays bare the social issues plaguing our beloved country right now -- polarization, rapes, mob lynchings, disregard for law and order, corruption, and of course, dirty politics.
In this nearly four minute long parody, the first thing one notices is the lyrics, sung to the tune of the original rap song, and altered by digital content creators Aariz Saiyed and Manan Desai.
While it can crack you up if your sense of humour allows you to enjoy crass jokes, the visuals are like a slap on your face, rudely bringing you back to the reality of our times.
From the ridiculousness of putting respect for cows above the value of human lives, to the unverified content doled out to viewers in the name of news -- the parody spends equal time satirizing each of the social evils that prevail in 2018 India.
The most powerful message comes at the end of the video when the rap performer is shot dead amid a crowd. People dance around his lifeless body and go about doing their business.
A day after an alleged attack on JNU student Umar Khalid, could the ending be more evocative?
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