MovieChat Forums > Billu (2009) Discussion > Is the word 'Barber' derogatory?

Is the word 'Barber' derogatory?

posted 15 years ago by muthyala
11 replies | jump to latest

Have you heard the latest? The word "Barber" has been dropped from the film title, because people find the word derogatory.

I come from a small place in India and the name 'Barber' and 'Barber Shop' are very much normal.

I looked up in multiple dictionaries and wikipedia. No where is the word 'Barber' mentioned as derogatory. Even in England, it is a valid word that is used to describe a professional who offers to cut men's hair.

Is it me or Are the indian sensitivities going bonkers ??

[–] mschaef 15 years ago

I’m from the USA, and Barber is a legitimate word here also, a category in the phone book yellow pages between Barbecue Contractors and Barricades, with lots of listings. No one here has every complained. It’s amazing that they are going to cover the word barber with a piece of paper on all the posters that say “Billu Barber”. I bought a Billu Barber poster at the Hindi cinema house last night. I don’t think I’m going to cover the word on my poster. No one here is going to have an issue with it.

[–] abhinav19 15 years ago

These people are retarded that's why. LIke honestly, its an occupation, whats wrong with that? Remember a movie called "taxi driver". Ugh, honestly, people need to relax a little, they take life too seriously.

So yeah, indian sensitivities are going nuts.

[–] villipomp 15 years ago

This is like the most ridiculous thing EVER!!! It's just somebody looking for their 15 mins of fame by going agains Shahrukh Khan... Truly pathetic!

SRKs pics from 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A3K9n-Jp5M&feature=channel_page

[–] colinbah 15 years ago

I KNOW, THIS IS THE MOST STUPID THING I HAVE EVER HEARD OF. WHY ARE SOME INDIANS TRYING TO PUT DOWN ONE OF THEIR OWN. GOD THIS IS THE MOST IDIOTIC THING I HAVE EVER HEARD OF. I AM NOT AN INDIAN BUT I DO WATCH THE MOVIES BUT ONE THING I DO KNOW IS THIS, "NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE WORD 'BARBER' BECAUSE IT IS A PROFESSION PEOPLE", JUST LIKE COOLIE OR ACTOR, OR DOCTOR OR LAWYER. I STILL CANT BELIEVE THIS, ITS JUST TOO BIZARRE AND SURREAL, REALLY INDIANS, REALLY? JUST GIVE THE GUY A BREAK AND LEAVE HIM ALONE.

COLIN FARRELL IS JUST SO HOT AND CHARMING THAT YOU CANT HELP NOT LOVING HIM.

[–] ragesh1 15 years ago

I think the whole barber controversy is more of a marketing gimmick than an actual protest..

[–] loverfellow 15 years ago

If the word barber was going to be an issue then this must have been raised in the movie "Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Street". Those who object just did that for cheap publicity or something.

[–] sotarantino 15 years ago

I don't think it was publicity stunt as they removed "BARBER" from the title.

Its more because of Indian audience who just want to come into limelight by doing such crappy activities.

I think Shahrukh Khan should have made an example for others by resisting the idiotic crowd and sticking to the original title.

[–] ragesh1 15 years ago

Indian audience did not have any problems with the title.. it was the "hairdressers association" who had a problem..

and how can "audience" come into limelight.. you can bring a person, or an event or a group of people to limelight..

also.. what "crappy activities" are you talking about..

your name sounds very indian.. aren't you also part of the "Idiotic Indian audience??" .. or you think you are from some other planet.. :-)

[–] rohonnag 15 years ago

some moronic high flying idiot hair dressers association wants the word barber to be banned! permanently!!

lets also ban doctor, lawyer, pilot etc etc

lets call pilots aviators! that's cooler right!!

Why...So..Serious? Let's put a smile on that face of yours!

[–] visio159 15 years ago

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085361/

_______________
But you're a doctor! It's your job to heal people!. How can you just let her die!

[–] digvijayrk 13 years ago

relax guys.....nobody in india considers "barber" as derogatory....
it was just a publicity stunt by shah rukh khan a few days before the movie released.....