Moin Bhai Dilliwala, a tribute to Moin Akhter
As if the year passed in a stroke. It is hard to come to terms that one year has passed since Moin Akhter left us.
A stand up comedian who took the art to a level whose altitude is hard for any other actor to surmount.
As a family friend there are countless small and big moments to cherish, which are no less pleasant and hilarious, than his performances.
Actions speak louder than words, hence Moin in action, not words is the best way to pay tribute to him.
I pay homage to this monument of Comedy called Moin Akhter through my favourite piece.
The episode touched me, and related to me in more than one way.
First it was one of the million brilliant performances as a Dilliwala by Moin Bhai, who often chose to speak to me exclusively in a Dilli wali wisko, jisko dialect.
Being a Delhiite, what could be more pleasing, than see his genius turn into ‘mere sheher wala’ at a flicker, both on and off the screen.
Secondly, being an Indian-Pakistani, this Indo-Pak collaboration where Moin acts as a Dilliwala who migrated to Karachi,Pakistan, and the brilliant comedian Javed Jaffery representing a Dilliwala residing in Delhi, India, I found it so close to my own life.
Thirdly, it is a perfect example to showcase how the two Delhi cultures survive thousands of miles apart, and yet distorted in their own ways.
Fourthly, the interaction between these two Dilliwalas also showcases the ground reality of how the two countries relate to each other in a love-hate relationship through cricket.
Last but certainly the most important reason, why I emotionally fell for the episode, is the of Indo-Pak visa, and how the Indian Dilliwala, used cricket as an easy way out to jump the grueling process of obtaining a visa to meet his near and dear ones on the other side of the border.
For those who have to go through this ordeal can very well relate to how the visa process acts as a heartless wall between the loved ones conjoined in heart, yet separated by the political border.
Friend or no friend of Moin Bhai, Dilliwala or no Dilliwala, cricket match new or old, I am sure everyone will be as thrilled to watch it as I am even after having viewed it over a dozen times previously. (Many will find it exaggerated, but perhaps comedy is always so 🙂 ).
P.S. My special apologies to my non-Urdu/ Hindi understanding Blog followers and friends. I wish I could translate the episode, and could share with you the thrill of watching the pure genius, the king of stand up comedy in Pakistan, who was also a personal friend, mimic like a typical resident of the walled city of Old-Delhi, my city.
Part-1
Part-2
Blind to Bounds 
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