INTRODUCTION
Jaspal Bhatti is a household name – a national figure from Chandigarh who has done excellent work in the field of humour and satire. Exposing rampant corruption and dissecting social evils are the prime concerns of Bhatti’s humour. To make people laugh and realize their follies Bhatti has used various media.
What India’s leading media critic Amrita Malik had to say about Bhatti’s work is that “Bhatti has the correct style for TV, an understated, quiet humour which sinks in without shouting, and which mercilessly exposes both corrup tion in our every day life and the typical people, who thrive on it. The grim fact and the hard truths of our society so bitter otherwise are made so funny through the adept handling of Bhatti, that cleansing laughter is created out of common malpractices. Tackling serious problems of our society with poker face is his unique style.”
“Jaspal Bhatti is one of India’s most Trusted People”
- Reader’s Digest Magzine
TELEVISION SATIRE
ULTA PULTA
It was probably the first popular programme as a stand up act to hit Indian television.
The programme was characterized by a 2 min. stand up section with a 20 sec skit on the same topic. Bhatti’s experience as a cartoonist helped because in this short 2-3 mins capsule he was able to contain substantial content. The programme also established Jaspal Bhatti’s style of comedy of trying to look at the world in a funny Topsy-Turvy way. The programme was such a hit the till today Bhatti is called the ‘Ulta-Pulta’ man.
FLOP SHOW
Flop Show till today it remains one of the finest comedy serials to ever hit the Indian TV screen.
In spite of the misguiding title ‘Flop Show’, the show was an astounding hit, gathering massive T.R.P.’s. Each episode started with an opening enactment, followed by a lengthy skit & wrapping it up with a parody. The credits of the show were worth a laugh & remain a trademark in all of Jaspal Bhatti’s work. The programme created stars out of the main characters – Jaspal Bhatti, Savita Bhatti and Vivek Shauq. It remains till today a classic, enjoying reruns on every channel and is a great hit on YouTube.
THANK YOU JIJAJI
Thank you Jija was produced and shot in Mad Arts
In this comedy Jaspal Bhatti is a typical Jija Ji. He is the brother-in-law of a senior bureaucrat Mr. Sandhu who is dead honest, strict and no nonsense Government officer from whom the whole department dreads. Sidhu always feels harassed by his brother-in law Jaspal Bhatti who is low educated self styled social worker. Jaspal Bhatti keeps recommending to Mr. Sandhu some undeserving persons for his favour. Whenever Sandhu refuses to compromise, Jaspal Bhatti kicks up fuss in the whole family that a Jija has been insulted.
There are numerous hilarious episodes based on relationships, government working and at the same time taking digs at contemporary happenings in this serial which was telecast on Sony SAB TV.
SHAH JI KI ADVICE
JaspalBhatti. plays the role of ‘Shahji ‘who is the habit of giving unwanted advice. How his advice runs riot in a middle class respectable family forms the crux of this great comedy tele-film.
FULL TENSION
A variety show by Jaspal Bhatti interspersed with skits, jokes, anchoring and parodies. A must watch for all Jaspal Bhatti fans featuring the usual gang of Ulta-Pulta idiots – Jaspal Bhatti, Savita Bhatti, Vivek Shauq, Brijesh Ahuja and B.N. Sharma amongst others.
Having written, produced and directed television serials such as Ulta Pulta, Flop Show, Full Tension and Thank You Jija Ji. Jaspal Bhatti brought the concept of humour on Indian Television screen.
CARTOONING
Jaspal Bhatti began his stint with the newspaper world in 1982 when his first cartoon appeared in the leading national English daily ‘The Tribune’.
His sharp, pungent cartoons continued for 5-6 years on the front page of the newspaper. His pocket cartoons ‘Oddly Speaking” hit out at the malaise in the society. He excels in arousing reader’s opining in a few lines to stress his forte i.e. corruption and hypocrisy.
Some of his cartoons have been included by well-known cartoonist Abu Abraham in his book titled “Indian Cartoons” published by penguin Books.
AUDIO CASSETTES
Catch out: Light hearted commentary on Cricket, Unemployment, Police and Kitty Parties.
Full Tension: Hilarious spoofs on Health, Beggars, Alcoholism and Politics.
Hawala Party Zindabad: A detailed and incisive look at the hawala Scam. Includes interviews, skits, parodies – all related to the hawala issue.
STREETPLAYS
Jaspal Bhatti is also the founding member of Nonsense Club – India’s First Humour Club.
Jaspal Bhatti founded Nonsense Club in 1980
Nonsense club was started with the basic aim of drawing attention to social evils through street plays. Jaspal Bhatti has been a satirical crusader against all sorts of social evil since college days in Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh.
BRIDE GROOMS ON SALE: The Nonsense Club organized a sale in women’s college with bridegrooms having price tags attached to them.
BLACK MARKETING: In those days when black-marketing of cinema tickets was common, the Nonsense Club too set up a special counter to sell the tickets in black to lambast the practice.
ADULTERATION: Members of Nonsense Club opened a stall of adulterated food in a public place to highlight the menace.
HEAVY SCHOOL BAGS: A procession of school children that tugged and pulled a giant sized school bag on a ‘rath’ highlighted the overburdening of the school child.
Similarly problems of misuse of telephone, dowry deaths, environment, sycophancy and several other social evils were highlighted through the club activities.
As vegetable prices go up, Jaspal Bhatti gifts his wife a necklace
FEATURE FILMS
In the year 1996-97 Jaspal Bhatti moved into the exciting field of feature films. In Dec’96 he launched the start of his new Punjabi feature film ‘Mahaul Theek Hai’ in Chandigarh.
The film in typical Bhatti fashion takes a close look at the bureaucratic function of the police in India. Released in 1998, the film besides the usual gang of Jaspal Bhatti, Vivek and Savita Bhatti stars Raj Babbar, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Asha Sharma, Diljit Kaur & Rana Jung Bahadur in key roles.
” The film was so well received that it ran silver jubilee and paved the way for Punjabi cinema to resurrect itself “
Besides this Bhatti has started working in many Hindi feature films. He has been paired with Govinda, Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Manisha, Urmila , Jakie Shroff among others. He also bagged the prestigious R.K.Banner, Rishi Kapoor’s first directional venture ‘Aa Aab Laut Chalen’’His other films include;
