Lyricist Javed Akhtar has been spending his new year’s eve defending plagiarism charges for some of his blockbuster hits like Sholay in a full fledged Twitter meltdown that has now entered its third day.
It all started when Javed Akhtar gave a vile response to a Twitter user who was disappointed by Akhtar’s stand. Akhtar’s arrogant tweet got Twitter users riled up who pointed out to him that even his most celebrated work, Sholay, has parts which are lifted from various movies.
And I’ve seen all the movies you lifted Sholay from
— Adi/Reviewero (@reviewero) December 30, 2017
Fistful of Dollars
— Aman Sharma (@sharman1280) December 31, 2017
When a user pointed out a scene which seems to have been inspiration of the famous scene of Thakur family murder in Sholay, Akhtar wasn’t too happy.
Wow !! So now you know the recipe of Sholay . Ab kya problem hai . Go ahead and make another Sholay . We are waiting !!!
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) December 31, 2017
When Twitter users pointed out that Akhtar should really be ashamed of plagiarising content for the classic film Sholay, he threw some more attitude around.
I wish writing a film Like Sholay would have been as easy . My friend Sholay is the only film in the world whose so many characters even the bit players and dialogue are in our collective memory after 43 years .
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) December 31, 2017
When another user pointed out the irony over Akhtar getting upset when Ram Gopal Varma directed the bizarre film Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag inspired from Sholay, when Sholay itself had scenes lifted from other films, Akhtar’s response reeked of arrogance.
That should tell you that you can not be successful by copiying success .
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) January 1, 2018
After the ‘father’ jibe, he even did a ‘nephew’ taunt.
Chacha ??? Don’t try to be familiar . You can’t be my nephew in Saat janam . My nephew Kabir akhtar is a successful film editor in Hollywood and the winner of last years Emmy award .
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) December 31, 2017
Rather than being humble and apologising for his abusive remarks, Akhtar continued his tripe on Twitter, assessing people’s IQ.
Like you they also once in a while send me a message . By the way I have already assessed you IQ but please no questions , i don’t want to hurt you .
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) January 1, 2018
But as another user pointed out, perhaps the money couldn’t buy dignity.
Get lost !!
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) December 31, 2017
This is not the first time Akhtar has had a rather public breakdown on social media. Earlier this year, the master of words Javed Akhtar had called Gold medal winning athletes as “hardly literate” persons. Just because they seemingly differed from his world view on an issue. The same Javed Akhtar has been slammed on social media time and again for his blatant shows of hypocrisy (1)(2). More recently he was exposed on social media, as he tried to defend Triple Talaq by bringing in false equivalence.
Social media is indeed a great leveller.
