Amid the ongoing debate around the use of cuss words in stand-up comedy, comedian Zakir Khan has shared his perspective on veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar’s recent remarks. The discussion comes at a time when comedians and their content are facing heightened scrutiny, following controversies around viral clips and backlash against shows like Samay Raina’s YouTube series, which many viewers labelled “vulgar.”
‘Abusive language is the chilli of language’: Javed Akhtar
At an event, Javed Akhtar had strongly criticised the excessive use of abusive language in creative expression, suggesting it often compensates for weak content. “If the conversation is bland, you will put some abusive language in it. Just to give it energy,” Akhtar said.Explaining his point further through an analogy, he added, “In Orissa, Bihar, and Mexico—anywhere in the world where there is poverty—people eat a lot of chilli because the food is bland. So just to get some taste, they eat chilli. Abusive language is the chilli of language. If you can speak good language and if you are witty enough, you don’t need this chilli.”
Zakir Khan reacts to Javed Akhtar’s comments
Reacting to these comments, Zakir Khan said he holds deep respect for Akhtar and understands the cultural context behind his statement. “I respect Javed Akhtar a lot. I love his work. As an artiste, we often admire other artistes who evolve with time. He reads a lot. For the kind of language and culture he represents as a writer, his comment on comedians is valid,” Zakir told The Indian Express.
However, the stand-up comic also underlined that Akhtar’s viewpoint should not be treated as a rulebook for everyone in the profession. “But it doesn’t mean people have to mandatorily apply it. If someone has cuss words in their language, you can’t stop that,” he noted. Zakir further added that growth in comedy, much like any art form, is a personal process. “As people grow, they do learn and refrain from certain things. But you can’t be pointing a finger at someone,” he said, offering a more nuanced take amid the ongoing discourse on creative freedom and boundaries in humour.
