Khansiwalla beats Chaiwalla: Arvind Kejriwal on TVF just trumped PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat

Arvind Kejriwal is a man of many talents. He came close to dethroning the monkey topi and making the muffler the Shah Rukh Khan of woollens. He made khansiwalla, the new chaiwalla of Indian politics. He made the jhadu take the place of serpents on a Roadies aspirant’s biceps. After its summers, he was the only other thing that Delhi lost its marbles over. Delhi’s Dhanno_,_ is many men in one - complainer, singer, champion of ‘ji’ and now giant slayer. The only thing we didn’t credit him with, is a sense of humour and Kejriwal showed the world how he can take a wisecrack or two on his chin.

Kejriwal agreed to make an appearance on The Viral Fever’s popular YouTube show Barely Speaking with Arnub, a spoof on Arnab Goswami’s Newshour.

It is clear that while using his appearance on the show as a way to reach out to his electorate - something that PM Modi tries to do with radio show Mann Ki Baat. However_,_ Kejriwal didn’t turn it into a brag fest. Also, unlike Mann Ki Baat, Kejriwal made himself available to criticism and questions, something Modi doesn’t really do with an isolated radio programme.

Here are four reasons why this move was a huge win for Kejriwal.

1. Mera Naam Joke-r: Given that public display of jokes has pushed public display of horny down the ladder of things-adarsh-bharatiya-uncles-hate, it was truly a toast to democracy when Kejriwal decided to appear in a video where everything from his clothes to his politics was made fun of. He appeared in the video long after the votes were cast. There was nothing he stood to gain out of the video due to the ‘OMG Kejriwal’s so awesome’ sentiment. The only thing he stood to achieve by appearing in the video was to claim to the crown of being the only politician who could be called ‘cool’ in the true sense of the term.

2. Kejriwal, the new Alia: Alia showed the way, Kejriwal followed. Like Alia Bhatt took on the ‘dumb blonde’ tag by playing exactly what her detractors accused her of being, thereby denying them the satisfaction of being trolls, Kejriwal appeared on the show playing to every stereotype associated with him. After Thakur in the sets of Sholay, Kejriwal must have been the only other man to sport winter wear in Mumbai. Applaud the man’s commitment ye all! If he has survived a muffler in Mumbai, he will survive Delhi this time around.

3. He used Arnub to slam Arnab: Who dares disturb the Universe? Our Mufflerman does! During the show, he told Arnub, " You have to realise you are a grown man now. You have to act like one. We are starting a children’s wing of the party, you should join it!" Doesn’t take a genius to figure out who his advice was meant for. A lot of people have lost their cool around the prominent anchor and has come down to shameful language of ridicule, but Kejriwal’s attack was wicked.

4. He used his caricature to pat counter the bhagora tag: (Lame joke alert) Who could have played Bhaag Milkha Bhaag better than Farhan Akhtar? Arvind Kejriwal.

A lot of jokes such as these - which could potentially spoil first dates, Twitter reputation, marriages and your relationship with the boss  - were drawing guffaws thanks to Kejriwal’s 49-day government. However, defending his decision to ditch the Delhi government would perhaps be as difficult as speaking two sentences in front of Goswami at one go. So, he did the next best thing, used humour to slam the Congress and the BJP and make his stand clear.

At one point, the show gets an Arjun Kejriwal - a caricature of Kejriwal himself. The show introduces him as a Bollywood filmmaker who left his film midway, in 49 days. From allegations of his ambition to accusations that he was scared and hence ran, Kejriwal’s caricature answered all those doubts with allusions to Bollywood filmmaking. At a time when allegories are touching new lows - remember Ramzaadon versus Haramzaadon and bazaaru log - Kejriwal’s ploy was refreshing and funny.

Watch the TVF video here: