The popular comedy show The Great Indian Kapil Show has recently faced significant criticism after an episode upset the Bengali community, leading to legal action and public outcry. In this particular episode, host Kapil Sharma and co-star Krishna Abhishek humorously parodied the famous Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore’s well-known poem, "Ekla Chalo Re," changing it to "Pichla Chalo." This alteration was seen as offensive by many in the Bengali community.
Notable figures from Bengali literature and the arts, such as the respected poet Sujato Bandyopadhyay and musician Indradeep Das Gupta, have spoken out against the episode, highlighting that humor should not cross into disrespect, as this can be very hurtful.
The Bango Bhashi Mahasabha Foundation has sent a legal notice to the producers of the show, claiming that the episode violates cultural and religious sensitivities.
On a related note, Salman Khan, who previously co-produced earlier seasons of the show, has chosen to separate himself from the issue. A representative has stated that neither Salman Khan nor his production company is involved with The Great Indian Kapil Show, which currently streams on Netflix.