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The Hindu
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Dead Voters and Democracy's Farce in Bihar's SIR
Published : Aug 15, 2025 16:51 IST - 4 MINS READ Dear readers, Politics has always been a spectacle—drama, melodrama, suspense, and the odd twist that makes you wonder if you're watching the news or a bad soap. But the events around the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR)—a term many point out the Election Commission has never used before—have outdone even the most overcooked political potboiler. Surreal. Sordid. On August 13, Rahul Gandhi had tea with seven 'dead' voters from Raghopur, the Assembly constituency of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav in Bihar, and thanked the Election Commission with sugar-laced sarcasm. 'There have been many interesting experiences in life, but I never got the chance to have tea with dead people. For this unique experience, thank you, Election Commission!' Gandhi posted on X. Was he thinking of the 1995 American crime drama Dead Man Walking, or the rock supergroup of (almost) the same name that toured the UK, Ireland, and the US? I like to think these 'dead men walking' staged an exclusive presentation for Rahul, who, in true Main Hoon Na style, promised to fight for their rights. It brought to mind Kaagaz (2021), the story of Lal Bihari 'Mritak', a middle-class man from Uttar Pradesh declared dead in government records, whose 18-year battle to prove he was alive led him to found the Uttar Pradesh Association of Dead People. Or Unwanted (2019), about an autistic boy, Mangal Azad, who must prove he is alive after being declared dead. Reel life is one thing. In real life, it's less entertaining when your own government says you no longer exist. Meanwhile, the actor Kay Kay Menon objected to the Congress using a clip from his web series Special Ops promotions in its 'Vote Chori' campaign—without permission. The ad caption read: 'Himmat Singh kuch keh rahe hain, jaldi se kar aao! Band karo (Himmat Singh is saying something, go quickly! Stop it).' Soon came Menon's dry rejoinder: 'Please note I have not acted in this ad.' Still, nothing could outshine the absurdity of Rahul Gandhi's tea party with the certified-dead—a ready-made masala script. In a four-minute clip he shared, the 'deceased' joked about sightseeing in Delhi and wondered how a dead man buys a ticket to the monuments. Many only discovered their official deaths after checking the electoral rolls, despite filing all the paperwork for inclusion. Before this séance in Delhi came the case of Minta Devi, listed in Bihar's voter rolls as 124 years old, making her older than Ethel Caterham, the world's oldest living person at 115. Priyanka Gandhi and other Congress women MPs wore T-shirts with Minta Devi's photo to mock the SIR's absurdities. The BJP pounced, accusing the Congress of violating privacy, as Minta Devi herself demanded to know who gave permission to plaster her Election Card publicly. But in politics, privacy is an optional extra. Then came Mintu Paswan, produced in the Supreme Court by the activist Yogendra Yadav—another 'dead' man, despite having voted in the last four Lok Sabha elections. His crime? Someone told an official he was dead. The farce has spread beyond Bihar. Aaditya Thackeray cited a Varanasi man who fathered 34 children in 16 years, a Palghar woman with five voter cards, and an unmarried seer listed as the father of 50 voters. The hits keep coming: 269 voters at one Muzaffarpur address, 247 at another in Jamui. The list of absurdities could double as the sequel to Kaagaz. Rahul Gandhi now plans a 16-day 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar from August 17, which the Congress calls a decisive battle for democracy and one-person-one-vote. The march will start in Sasaram, once represented by Meira Kumar and her father, the late Jagjivan Ram. And in case you thought the scriptwriters had clocked out, there was that earlier incident where someone filed an online application for a residence certificate in Donald Trump's name in Samastipur, just days after the Bihar administration issued one to 'Dog Babu'. Until the next newsletter, SIR and madam, I remain Yours truly, Anand Mishra | Political Editor, Frontline We hope you've been enjoying our newsletters featuring a selection of articles that we believe will be of interest to a cross-section of our readers. Tell us if you like what you read. And also, what you don't like! Mail us at frontline@
News18
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Sharat Sonu On Bringing Subtle Humor To Mandala Murders: 'In A Dark Show, My Character Was the Relief'
Last Updated: Mandala Murders actor Sharat Sonu talks about his quirky role as SHO Pramod, adding subtle humor to the dark Netflix thriller. Actor Sharat Sonu, whose diverse filmography includes Kaagaz, Super 30, Zombivli, UP65, and Mitti: Ek Nayi Pehchaan, has made a striking impression as SHO Pramod in Mandala Murders, the gripping psychological thriller currently streaming on Netflix. While the show dives deep into intense and unsettling terrain, Sharat's character offers a moment of levity amidst the chaos—a role that came with its own challenges. 'I was drawn to the humor," he says. 'In a dark series, my character brought relief. While others searched for killers or lost ones, I didn't have to search for anything. That made the role quirky and fun." However, balancing comic timing within a serious narrative isn't always easy. 'The biggest challenge was keeping humor subtle, not over-the-top," he explains. 'Comedy can easily slip into exaggeration. Workshops and Gopi Sir's guidance helped keep it natural. Retakes could feel monotonous, but the energy on set never let it feel boring or challenging." Despite playing the comic relief, Sonu admits that the intensity of the series was hard to ignore. 'Honestly, I didn't need to go 'dark.' My character was the comic relief, so I stayed lighthearted. But being on such an intense set automatically pulls you into that mood—you feel the tension even while playing the lighter notes." Working alongside leading stars like Vaani Kapoor and Vaibhav Raj Gupta was another highlight of the experience for Sonu. 'Vaani's warm, grounded, and never carries 'star energy' on set," he says. 'Vaibhav is the most supportive co-actor anyone could ask for. Both made scenes enjoyable, and the entire cast's vibe shows in the series." The actor is clearly enjoying the positive feedback the show has received so far. 'People are loving it! From friends to audiences, I've been getting messages about how refreshing my character feels amidst all the darkness. It's nice when people say you made them laugh in such a tense thriller. That's the best compliment." Praising the immersive production design, Sonu adds, 'The sets, lighting, and detailing transported us straight into that world. Every frame looked so real, you didn't have to 'act' the atmosphere—it was already there. The visual mood made slipping into character effortless." Directed by Gopi Puthran and Manan Rawat and produced by YRF Entertainment, Mandala Murders stars Vaani Kapoor, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, Surveen Chawla, and Sharat Sonu. The show is currently trending on Netflix India and continues to garner global acclaim. view comments First Published: August 02, 2025, 17:56 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
