Parodying a parody: how does one mock MSG?

We entered the twilight zone today when it came to light that a comedian was arrested for impersonating Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Kiku Sharda, better known as Palak on Comedy Nights With Kapil, was arrested for offending religious sentiments by mimicking Singh. I call it the twilight zone, because to my mind, if anyone should be arrested for atrocities committed on camera it should be Singh for MSG 1 and 2.

Sharda even went the AIB route by apologising for offending people's sentiments. But this is India where...

The thing about the arrest though, is that there is no portrayal of Singh that could be more vulgar and OTT than Singh himself. Short of covering oneself in 50 kilos of bear fur, dressing in a rainbow-coloured wizard outfit and gargling to the tune of Lovecharger, it cannot be done.

And that's why Kiku Sharda should be freed, because no can make a mockery of Singh better than the man himself.

A few months ago I had the honour of meeting Singh. It was at the press meet of his second stinkfest, MSG 2, a movie so B-grade and tacky you'd think it starred Gajendra Chauhan.

On-screen, Singh's ludicrousness is tempered by the whirlwind of madness that is MSG2. In person though, there were no such distractions and Singh radiated ridiculousness all on his own. He told the assembled audience that eating chicken would cause cancer. He burst into song at the slightest suggestion even as a room full of reporters questioned their motives for entering journalism.

Comedian Kiku Sharda was arrested for mimicking the head of the DSS. The question though, is how does one parody a parody?

But the firsthand display of Singh's lunacy is only the tip of the iceberg. His well-meaning followers also cobbled together a DVD extolling all the virtues and achievements of the man, such as:

1) He invented T20 cricket

2) He's a 'universal' fashion designer

3) A master of 32 sports

4) An 'emperor of melodies'

5) A feminist

Heck, he was driving a tractor at age 3; clearly he's the second coming of God!

From cooking to gardening, there is no skill too small for Singh to boast, but my personal favourite is that he's a global warming mitigator. Whatever that is.

Still, his followers must really love his singing and T20 cricket, because he's racked up more than 50 lakh of them. All of whom were apparently offended by Kiku Sharda.

Also read - The life and times of a Messenger of God: the multitalented MSG

When you combine his fashion choices, his (messenger of) god-awful singing and the allegations of rape, murder and castration against him, you'd imagine he'd be in an institution rather than running his own. But clearly there's something in the water at Sirsa, because he still has followers. Followers who would probably be very offended by the content of this article. Which is why I threw in some big words (over 4 letters long) to confuse them.

I'd much rather not be Sharda II.

More in Catch - Meet the sex criminals. Who have orgasms for a good cause

What's Indian chicklit got that Western doesn't? Flaws, & thank god for that

#Jallikattu: You call this celebration? What bull!