Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Friday dismissed a petition opposing the usage of the phrase “Alibaug se aaya hai kya?” in films and serials.
The petition, filed by Alibaug resident Rajendra Thakur, sought that the Central Board of Film Certification and the state government be ordered to issue a circular banning the phrase used commonly in Maharashtra to address someone considered foolish or naive. Alibaug, a town in Raigad district, is a short ferry ride away from the Gateway of India.
A division bench of Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice N.M. Jamdar dismissed the public interest litigation. In his plea, Mr Thakur said that the phrase is “humiliating” as it projects the people of Alibaug as “illiterates”. Mr Thakur’s plea states that Alibaug is a “well-to-do place, a major tourist attraction and that it has several good schools and high literacy rate”.
It also says that Alibaug has a rich culture and history.
The court, however, while dismissing petition said, “Jokes are made on every community...Santa Banta jokes... Madrasi jokes and jokes on north Indians. Have fun...don’t get humiliated. We do not find anything derogatory in this.”
“Alibaug is bestowed with nature with scenic beauty. In spite of having such a rich background filled with history, culture, industry, tourism, medical facilities, nature and education, it is highly objectionable to ridicule the people of Alibaug by projecting them as ‘illiterate’ who do not have common sense (sic),” the plea had said.
Mr Thakur had also urged the court to direct the state authorities to get the public to refrain from repeating the phrase and to ensure that films, documentaries and TV serials that reference the phrase are denied censor certificates.
