By Manasi Nene
“Auntie, bad auntie – where in the world is auntie…”
…goes a line from the theme song of the webseries, Bad Auntie. And the answer to this question is pretty obvious. She’s everywhere, and you know it. She’ll pop out from the house next door to question your life decisions. She’ll always talk about how much money her daughter Rinku makes, and how well Rinku can cook, and what kind of car Rinku drives. She’ll make weird comments about how you look, and how you should look. She’s always trying to find you a husband. And now the omnipresent aunty is on YouTube.
Bad Auntie, created by Monica Bhatnagar with some episodes co-produced by Brown Girl Magazine, an LA-based actor and filmmaker, is based on her “uncanny ability to receive unsolicited advice”. We’re not unaccustomed to aunty-humour — artist Hatecopy’s book Trust No Aunty, and a parody of Adele’s ‘Rolling In The Deep’, titled Beta Get Married, have already done the rounds online. Then there’s the Aunty 303 from the glorious 90s, and Aunty Acid who lives in all our hearts and also our social media.
Bad Auntie does something different, though. She hides behind the curtains and attacks you when you least expect it. “Don’t eat with left hand”, she says, “it is bad luck”. “Don’t step on books,” she says, you will never graduate. Even as she tells you when you should have children, you will have no answer. And, of course, aunty is always eating samosas. She’s going to find her way to your next family function, so be prepared.