Comedian Jaspal Bhatti dies in road mishap in Punjab

Jalandhar, Oct 25: Punjab's famous comedian Jaspal Bhatti died in a road accident near Shahkot adjoining Nakodar late Wednesday night. He was 57.He was returning from Bathinda afer promoting his forthcoming movie “Power Cut" , when his car dashed against a roadside tree. The film is due for release on Friday in Punjab and adjoining states.Bhatti was rushed to Orthonova hospital here, where he succumbed to injuries. Jaspal Bhatti's son Jasraj Bhatti and actress Surilie Gautam were also injured in the mishap.The movie "Power Cut" stars Jaspal Bhatti's son along with Surilie Gautam, and Prem Chopra. Born on March 3, 1955, in a Rajput Sikh family near Amritsar , Bhatti, a cartoonist with the daily Tribune, became famous for his satirical take on the problems of the common man. He is well known for his television series Flop Show and mini capsules Ulta Pulta which ran on Doordarshan in the late 1980s and early 1990s.He graduated from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh in Punjab, as an electrical engineer. Bhatti was famous for his street plays like his Nonsense Club during his college days. Most of these plays were spoofs ridiculing corruption in society. Before venturing into television, he was a cartoonist for the The Tribune newspaper in Chandigarh.In the 1990s, he pioneered the home-made comedy on state broadcaster Doordarshan. Bhatti's sharp, pungent cartoons continued for 5-6 years on the front page of Tribune newspaper. His pocket cartoons ‘Oddly Speaking” hit out at the malaise in the society. Some of his cartoons have been included by well-known cartoonist Abu Abraham in his book titled “Indian Cartoons” published by Penguin Books.Bhatti's major TV serials were : Ulta Pulta, Flop Show, Full Tension, Thank You Jijaji, Hye Zindagi Bye Zindagi. His low-budget Flop Show in the early 1990s is remembered even today. His wife Savita Bhatti produced the show and acted in all the episodes as his wife.Only 10 episodes were ever produced, but the show has had a long and powerful legacy and is well remembered. Bhatti's subsequently acted and directed the popular TV series Ulta Pulta and Nonsense Private Limited for the Doordarshan.What attracted audience to his shows was his gift of inducing humour to highlight everyday issues of the middle class in India. Bhatti's satire on the Punjab police Mahaul Theek Hai (1999) was his first directorial venture for a full-length feature film in his native Punjabi language. It was well received amongst audience for its simple and honest humour. He played the role of Jolly Good Singh, a guard, in the movie Fanaa. He played a comical college principal in Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe. He also starred in the comedy Punjabi film Jijaji.Bhatti appeared in SAB TV's Comedy ka King Kaun as a judge with actress Divya Dutta. In his latest stint, Bhatti and his wife Savita competed in a popular Star Plus show Nach Baliye which went on air in October 2008.The couple put their best foot forward to entertain the audiences with their dancing and comic skills.Bhatti had set up a training school and studio in Mohali near Chandigarh called "Joke Factory" Jaspal Bhatti married Savita in 1985, and has a son, Jasraj Bhatti, and a daughter, Raabiya Bhatti. Jaspal Bhatti founded Nonsense Club in 1980Nonsense 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.