Beef Vindaloo

It’s been barely a week since the Bombay office of popular music channel MTV was attacked for offending religious sentiment when it was a case of history repeating itself. This time round, the union representing barbers in Bombay have attacked the MTV office claiming that the channel’s efforts to glorify bald men has severely affected their income and business and they are demanding compensation and an unconditional apology. In what was definitely more than a symbolic move, the barbers made sure to attack and destroy all the mirrors in the MTV office. The newly installed LCD screens were unharmed.

“This has been going on for far too long,” said one of the protestors, “every year it is the same thing, one bald man is looking cool after another.” The barbers estimate as many as five people every month decide to shave their heads and stay bald in an effort to look cool. They say that as much as Rs 150 is lost in revenues every month. “Who is going to compensate us for the income lost in cutting people’s hair when they decide to stay bald?” said another. They claim that former MTV boss Cyrus Oshidar started the problem by himself being bald and then glorifying the songs of Right Said Fred. Lately, MTV Senior Producer Raghu Ram has joined the baldwagon and is the main reason for the barber ire. “Why does he have to come on every episode of Roadies if he is bald,” was how the union leader summed up the problem.

MTV have not divulged exactly how much damage was caused to them this time round but said that this latest fracas has prompted the top bosses to go on sever damage control. While there is no official comment from the channel, sources say that the channel might even go to the extent of inviting hairy male VJs to replace all the current ones in an effort to placate the barbers. The barbers feel that this will not be enough. “We want an on-air apology to our community and a promise of compensation.”

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