What truly happened in the 'Rs 370 Ki Biryani' clip on Pranit More's show? Watch the complete video

You have watched reels online and talked about it with your chronically online friends. But truly, how deep have you dived in? Watched the whole video, maybe not.

The internet has the habit of criminalising a person as quickly as victimising them. This is why a man who made an extremely violent comment against a woman in front of an audience and a reputed comedian was trolled on social media. But was as quickly also sided by some who felt that losing a job over a remark he made was too much. The comedian who deactivated his social media after posting the video online, was also supported by some.

For those thinking of changing their sides, watch the entire video before you change your mind because the viral clip is only part of what made the incident reach national limelight.

The entire story

The matter rose through the algorithm last week when some clips from Pranit More's live show in Gurugram went viral. A man in the audience, Himanshu Jangra, a 23-year-old web developer shared the story of a girl he went on a date with once and then twice. He claimed he paid Rs 370 for the biryani she ate and in return expected physical intimacy from her. He shared that he took her to a "dark park" and began looking for opportunities to touch her. She initially refused a kiss, but he kept pushing. Eventually, they kissed, and he began touching her. "Uski leggings mein haath dala [I slid my hand inside her leggings]," he said into a microphone before a laughing, cheering crowd.

While these words may not be right to write, they were right enough to be said in a public space and applauded by a crowd, more so awarded by a comedian. While the man explicitly said that he was not enjoying the encounter, he went on to proceed further.

The entire incident he shared, was about him. His wants, his expectations, his desire and most of all, his sense of entitlement over the payment of a meal. The woman, her name, her identity, her wants and her consent are all secondary in the context, much less considered. Not once did the audience shiver over the incident as it was being told and the comedian instead went on to award him Rs 5,000 for his act. Pranit even went on to commend him for making the show successful and delivering a crowd-work act, that had never before happened on his show.

Watch the complete video here:

As a woman of the now, one hopes this kind of crowd work ceases to exist, but most important of all, this kind of thinking. This sense of entitlement over a woman's body and will, or what is described in more serious terms as a 'rape-culture mindset'. Every time a man dares to recount an incident like this with pride and be validated by laughter and monetary compensation, society should look in a mirror and feel ashamed at the so-called progress it believes it has achieved.

For women, this is not just another revelation of a dangerous man but also a shivering recounting of why dating or marriage to men in a society where women are attacked every single day, physically and verbally, might not be a future prospect. If a man can reduce the consent of a woman to that of a biryani bill and be celebrated for it as a story of valour, then not only men but women in the audience must also be ashamed.

Yes, he lost a job, was trolled online, and life became difficult. But a job can be gained again, a social media account can be made again, but the thinking, the ideology, that takes time to change, and he should begin NOW.

If you are siding with the man or feeling bad for him, then not just him, you as well, might need to recheck the thoughts, the video, and the outrage.