Make in India? Why the internet is mocking Pahlaj Nihalani's new Modi video

As if watching Salman Khan ham his way through a movie in which he plays two regressive characters wasn’t enough, the interval of Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (in many theatres) featured a handcrafted surprise by our Central Board of Film Certification Chief and Modi fan-boy Pahlaj Nihalani,

A lot of eyebrows were raised when Pahlaj Nihalani was made the Chief of the CBFC (India has no Censor Board) and his tenure has been rife with controversy. From putting out a list of banned cuss words (which had already existed) to muting the word ‘lesbian’ in Dum Laga Ke Haisha to banning the release of 50 Shades of Grey in India, Nihalani has often been criticised, even by his own board members. Even Ashoke Pandit, a fellow member of the CBFC infamous for his tweet on the AIB roast, had called him an 'archaic monarch' who treated the CBFC like his own fiefdom, whose ridiculous diktats and autocratic functioning made CBFC a laughing stock.

Despite claims, that the CBFC doesn't censor or cut films, Nihalani is actually heard saying in a leaked audio: “If you are a creative person, you should know how to go around it. Instead of muting abusive language, just dub it again to fill in the blanks. So nobody will know. Clean pictures will run better. Films with bad language don’t do well. Your expenditure to redub will be 5000 rupees… Immediately, I will give you the certificate." Mr Nihalani is then heard offering dubbing solutions to the young filmmakers. "You can dub g**** with Mirchi and Mother***** can be dubbed as mai ka laal.”  

Here's the Pahlaj Nihalani audio leak for those asking: https://t.co/ADq3lAfDhg | But first read: http://t.co/WK02w5iSJD #YahaanSabKiLagiHai

— Sudhish Kamath (@SudhishKamath) March 29, 2015

The banning spree also didn’t spare a documentary on the Varanasi battle between Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal during the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections made by Kamal Swaroop. 

Given his extreme love for all things Modi, this video dedicated to the PM wasn’t very surprising. But the quality of the song 'Mera Desh Hai Mahan' has put it firmly in the ‘so-bad-it’s-good’ variety. It’s not just that the video has stereotyped religious imagery and bad CGI and looks like rather shabbily made propaganda, a claim denied by Nihalani who was quoted by Catch News as saying: “The song doesn't glorify anybody except the nation. It says 'Bharat ko Swachh banana hai, Jo Sapna dekha Bapu, Modi ne, Usse mil-jul kar Humein Sach kar Dikhana Hai'. So it talks about how we all should come together and work towards the betterment of the nation.”

But production values aside, the video also takes the extreme liberty of juxtaposing several non-Indian images from across the world, as Twitter user @sandygrains pointed out. These included an expressway construction in Dubai, the Moscow International Business Centre, Japan's HTV-3 exiting the International Space Station, Nasa's space shuttle (without the logo), the Tour de France and the Make In India lion on the International Space Station.

HAHAHA. Just saw the Nahilani Modi video. Has anyone made a list of all the things in it that's not Indian? Because I have one.

— Sandy (@sandygrains) November 15, 2015

That's expressway construction in Dubai. pic.twitter.com/S7gC0cso7E

— Sandy (@sandygrains) November 15, 2015

That's the US Air Force's Tomcat. pic.twitter.com/pg2GgssnTM

— Sandy (@sandygrains) November 15, 2015

That's Moscow's International Business Centre. pic.twitter.com/FA2RxVLFtg

— Sandy (@sandygrains) November 15, 2015

That's Japan's HTV-3 exiting the ISS. pic.twitter.com/bTXNICpOiA

— Sandy (@sandygrains) November 15, 2015

That's NASA's Atlantis space shuttle with the NASA logo photoshopped out. pic.twitter.com/fSBjyFPKYW

— Sandy (@sandygrains) November 15, 2015

That's Tour de France  pic.twitter.com/Z6yF67X1wF

— Sandy (@sandygrains) November 15, 2015

That's most std ever stock photo of "solar panels & wind turbines" from California. I mean even *i* have used this. pic.twitter.com/FSEjLBhGTn

— Sandy (@sandygrains) November 15, 2015

That's the International Space Station, FFS. You can't point at it, put a lion on it, & say "Yeh kamal hai Modi ka." pic.twitter.com/ThpQg5kpTf

— Sandy (@sandygrains) November 15, 2015

That's the Discovery shuttle. At least find stuff people can't recognise on sight. pic.twitter.com/g4hP3RdndY

— Sandy (@sandygrains) November 15, 2015

And I think that's INS Vikramaditya, but that flag... pic.twitter.com/nBxbr5pixs

— Sandy (@sandygrains) November 15, 2015

But bet this video was way better than the movie anyway amirite?

— Sandy (@sandygrains) November 15, 2015

Here's how the internet reacted to the video: 

Congrats, India. We now have the worst propaganda video of all time https://t.co/mKbMKNKIa8

— JAPSPEPORJ FENWAY (@SidizenKane) November 15, 2015 

BJP's cultural icons are Pahlaj Nihalani & Gajendra Chauhan. Is it any surprise that it can only win political battles & nothing else?

— IndiaSpeaks (@IndiaSpeaksPR) November 15, 2015

Dear @narendramodi sack Pahlaj Nihalani immediately. Sycophancy should have no place in BJP.

— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) November 15, 2015

Censor board chief Pahlaj Nihlani's tribute to Modiji is the most amazing thing you will watch today. https://t.co/slAgAv6Ujy

— Scotchy (@scotchism) November 13, 2015

Some couldn't contain their glee.  

Who is paying for these Pahlaj Nihalani directed #Modi song playing in the theatre?? And why do we need this anthem?

— Rachita Prasad (@rachitaprasadET) November 12, 2015

The new Pahlaj Nihalani video about Sri 1008 Modiji, is an accurate visual representation of bhakts on social-media, every day. Hilarious!

— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) November 15, 2015

If you have watched our Censor Chief's Video, Ode to Modi, just head over to @sandygrains TL. Give her a bow before exiting

— Joy (@Joydas) November 15, 2015

No doubt people from Btown were complaining on his appointment #PahlajNihalani produces an epitome of stupidity

— Sourav Ranu (@souravranu) November 15, 2015

No argument can justify the appt of Pahlaj Nihalani & Gajendra Chauhan.The #Modivideo playing at cinemas now, is an insult of every citizen

— AsHoKa (@AshokaHolla) November 15, 2015

And that's not all. It looks like the song is actually part of a movie that will be releasing soon.