Vir Das is best known for his stand-up comedy (Image courtesy - virdas)
Highlights
- Vir Das' tweet is in wake of the Apu controversy
- He highlights the portrayal of female white characters in Bollywood films
- He has worked in films like Namastey London, Delhi Belly and Go Goa Gone
Actor Vir Das, best known for his stand-up comedy, recently shared his views about the treatment of 'white characters' in the Indian films, 'specifically female' in Bollywood movies on Twitter. Vir Das' tweet was in wake of the recent outrage over the offensive stereotype of Indians and South Asians in the show
The Simpsons through their character Apu. Vir Das wrote in his tweet, "While America takes a look at Apu and the conciousness of how Indians are portrayed in American media. Maybe we take a look at how we treat white characters, specifically female in almost every single Bollywood movie......ever?"
Twitterati, however, begged to differ and pointed out that, in fact, the 'white characters' receive equal grand treatment in the film. One Twitter user even wrote that in films such as
Lagaan,
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and
Rang De Basanti, the said female white characters were seen 'driving the narrative.'
Lagaan,
Rajneeti,
Rang De Basanti,
Kites,
Love Aaj Kal,
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag,
Kabul Express,
Project 2.0,
Kisna: The Warrior Poet,
Shivaay etc. In all films above, the so called gori actresses were seen driving the narrative and in some cases, leading..."
Take a look at Vir Das' post on Twitter and the reaction to it:
Some Twitter users even pointed that Vir Das could have extended his support to black people as well.
Last month, an American documentary -
The Problem With Apu - was released, which talked about whether Apu (an animated character on the TV show
The Simpsons) can be considered offensive to people non-American descents, particularly Indians and South Asians.
The documentary received mixed reviews but
The Simpsons' Sunday episode, where the show's makers responded to the controversy with an offhand non-apologetic remark for being "politically incorrect" created a stir.
Watch the video clip from the Sunday's episode here:
Vir Das has featured in Bollywood films such as
Namastey London,
Delhi Belly,
Go Goa Gone and
Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi.