Legendary Pakistani humorist Moin Akhtar returns - 8 years after his death

Shubhomoy Sikdar on how a legendary humorist and satirical commentator from Pakistan has risen from his grave to tickle an entire generation

If you haven’t been living under a rock, there is a good chance that this man with a set of protruding teeth and a sardonic expression has made multiple appearances on your smartphone screen in the past fortnight.

Those of a certain vintage might recall how during his lifetime, the late Pakistani artist Moin Akhtar and his art — TV programmes, stage shows and plays — kept finding ways to enter Indian homes: through audio cassettes and later pirated video CDs; through television or radio signals caught by households in the border districts of Punjab in the late 1970s and early 1980s; and finally via YouTube.

But Akhtar (1950-2011), counted among the most iconic performers of the Indian subcontinent, could not have imagined that he would appeal to a much younger generation of Indians — eight years after his death. This sudden resurrection of the man and his cult is thanks to a popular tool of millennial expression — the meme.

A clip, almost 25 seconds long, that sparked a meme fest is an extract from Akhtar’s show, Loose Talk, aired between 2005 and 2011 on Pakistan’s ARY Digital channel, where he appeared as a different character in each episode. Another popular TV personality, Anwar Maqsood, played the hapless anchor who would often be at his wits’ end, thanks to the jibes and caustic remarks of the guests impersonated by Akhtar.

Memes have the power to make someone popular, but this is a rare case of a once-popular man coming back from the dead and leaving many wanting to know more about him. “My husband shared the footage, which I found really funny. I promptly searched for the show online and a Loose Talk marathon ensued,” says Delhi-based Kanika Sood, who works for FM channel Radio Mirchi. “It’s sharp commentary laced with perfectly timed humour and backed by nuanced writing and amazing performances by both, Akhtar in particular.” 

Like her, there are many Indians frantically scouring the internet, attracting a fresh wave of viewership for Loose Talk episodes, which remain relevant because of the content — from caustic sarcasm to downright hilarious antics — that Akhtar offers and the amazing composure the graceful Anwar complements it with.

It’s difficult to encapsulate the versatility on display, a hallmark of Akhtar’s career of 45 years, in one article. If he’s a Bangladeshi cricketer in one episode, in another he is a shayar from Lucknow, a musician from Chennai or a visitor from Hyderabad. Why, he even enacts former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The one in which he plays a Bangladeshi cricketer, who talks about everything but cricket through the course of the episode, has had millions of views — and counting.

The sets are austere, but the effect is in no way diminished. It’s also a throwback to a time when one could get away with acts such as his Bangladeshi turn, where his face is daubed with a shade of black, which would be deeply politically incorrect today.

How is the development that has so many Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis suddenly hooked being received by those closest to the late Moin Akhtar? His son Mansoor Moin Akhtar tells Business Standard over a phone call from Karachi that as pleasant a surprise as it may have been, the barrage of “have you seen it yet?” memes has been clogging the phones of his “not-so-tech-savvy” family for over a week now.

Moin Akhtar with actor Dilip Kumar;

“I had gone to attend a condolence meeting this Monday and there too people were showing these memes to me,” he says. “I don’t mind watching them over and over again for the many memories they bring back.”

Mansoor would like to believe that the first clip he received originated in India. This is a video where lines from the “harmonium episode” of Loose Talk were juxtaposed with a scene from the The Dark Knight (2008), with Akhtar’s voice for the Joker and Anwar’s for Batman.

How would a son rate the legacy of a man who effortlessly donned so many hats —  Akhtar was an actor, director, singer, humorist, and more? Akhtar Jr says that while Loose Talk was exceptional, he considers Rosy, a TV show where his father acts as a woman, and Half Plate, a play where he portrays an elderly man, as his best roles. “I once asked what made him such a phenomenon. He replied: ‘Beta main mazak karta hoon, mazak udaata nahin (Son, I crack jokes but not at the expense of others)’.”

“For an artist, the biggest critic is his family. I remember he would watch many Loose Talk episodes with us and whenever the feedback was positive, he felt more confident about the success of that particular episode,” he says, clarifying that the family spells its last name as “Akhtar” (and not “Akhter”, as it is often spelt).

The late artist’s unexpected comeback has also rekindled talks in the Akhtar household about reviving some of his unfinished projects — something that will help preserve his legacy. 

While the other half of the meme, Anwar Maqsood, remained unavailable for this article despite repeated attempts, the India connection excites Mansoor. “When I see the YouTube comments, most of them are from India. They have flattering things to say about my father and express disappointment when they learn that he is no more,” he says. “So many years later, this is surreal for us. Unlike Pakistan, where he does not need any introduction even for the younger generation, in India it’s practically newfound fame.”

The conversation expectedly moves to the political situation prevailing in the neighbouring countries and the impact it has had on cross-border cultural exchange. “Little can be done, but I feel good because my forefathers had migrated from India and my father was friends with or performed with many Bollywood celebrities — Dilip Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Anil Kapoor, Johnny Lever, Manisha Koirala,” says Mansoor. “Abbu’s death snapped that connect, so this twist of fate is certainly welcome.”

Mansoor remains hopeful that the situation will change and that the future will be peaceful for those in India and Pakistan. Laughing together can be a good starting point.

The meme

In the brief edited clip from Episode No 241 of Loose Talk, the guest, a harmonium player, explains his career choice saying that he had inherited the instrument, if not skill, from his father. At this, the anchor asks if the father played the harmonium, to which the guest replies, “Nahin, Abba harmonium khate the (No, he used to eat the harmonium)” followed by the expletive “abe s***le. This has become a punchline of sorts for slamming the pointlessness of, well, a pointless question.

 

Weeks after its dramatic emergence, the meme continues to trend as a hot favourite with the clip and screenshots garnering impressions and comments in millions. It has had a domino effect on Loose Talk videos, which are being rapidly shared across social media platforms.