making demeaning remarks against specially-abled people.
Both Laal Singh Chaddha and Shabaash Mithu have been accused of making fun of differently-abled people.
A complaint has been filed against the two films in the court of the commissioner for persons with disabilities.
Aamir Khan and Taapsee Pannu’s films allegedly made “ridiculing” comments against the differently-abled.
The complaint was filed by Dr Satendra Singh.
He is the co-founder of Doctors with Disabilities and also has a physical disability in his legs due to polio when he was nine months old.
In his complaint, he says Laal Singh Chaddha and Shabaash Mithu violated provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 by making demeaning remarks against specially-abled people.
Dr Singh shared a copy of the notice issued by the court of the commissioner for persons with disabilities on his complaint, but the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment did not provide any confirmation on the matter.
According to the notice, the court of the commissioner sought comments from the directors of Laal Singh Chaddha and Shabaash Mithu as well as the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry on the matter.
The complaint has questioned the use of the word ‘langde/langdi’ (crippled) in the films.
According to Dr Singh, the word was used to intentionally humiliate someone instead of denoting a disability.
The filmmakers have been told to submit their responses within 30 days.
Laal Singh Chaddha starred Aamir Khan in the title role and in his younger years, he suffered from a physical disability.
During one scene, a group of bullies threaten a young Laal and shout “pakad langde ko” (catch the cripple”.
The film, which also starred Kareena Kapoor, Mona Singh, and Naga Chaitanya, had previously faced a complaint for allegedly “disrespecting the Indian Army and hurting Hindu sentiments”.
It has also been criticised for a lack of an original storyline.
Meanwhile, Shabaash Mithu is based on the life of former Test and ODI captain of the India women’s national cricket team, Mithali Raj.
Taapsee Pannu starred as the cricketer.
One song, titled ‘Masti Takita Dhoom’, featured the lyrics “Atki jo tangadi, gol gattam khali, ho gayi langadi” (The world spun as I tripped, can’t stop limping).
Both films have not done well at the box office, especially Laal Singh Chaddha.
It earned Rs. 460 million (£4.7 million) in its first four days. But on its fifth day, it collected just Rs. 20 million (£208,000).
Loading ...