GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 26th June: The government’s cybercrime awareness caller tune, voiced by megastar Amitabh Bachchan, will be removed starting today, sources told NDTV. The pre-recorded message, which played ahead of phone calls, was part of a nationwide initiative to raise awareness about rising cases of cyber fraud.
“The campaign has come to an end and therefore, the caller tune will be removed from today,” said a senior official involved in the project.
While the initiative aimed to educate the public, it sparked widespread complaints, particularly about the delay it caused during emergencies. Many users said the caller tune prevented timely connection in urgent situations, making it more of an obstacle than a tool.
The tune also recently drew online backlash, with netizens directing their frustration at Mr. Bachchan himself. A social media post by the actor — “Ji haan huzoor, main bhi ek prashansak hoon. Toh??” — triggered sarcastic replies, one of which read: “Toh phone pe bolna band kro bhay (So stop saying it on the phone).”
Bachchan responded: “Sarkar ko bolo bhai, unhone jo kaha humne kar diya (Tell the government, I did what they told me to do).”
The 81-year-old actor also had to defend himself against ageist remarks. When a user commented “Buddha sathiya gaya (He has gone senile),” Bachchan retorted, “Ek din bhagwan na karein who jaldi aaye, ap bhi sathiya jaayenge. Parantu humarein yaha kahawat hai — jo satha, who patha (God forbid the day comes soon — you too will grow old. But we say: the older, the wiser).”
This isn’t the first time a caller tune featuring the Bollywood legend has stirred controversy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his voice was used in another public interest message promoting safety measures. That too led to criticism, especially after Mr. Bachchan and his family tested positive for the virus. A PIL was even filed in the Delhi High Court seeking removal of his voice from the advisory.
As of today, telecom users across India will no longer hear Bachchan’s cybercrime advisory when making calls, marking the formal end of the government’s awareness campaign through this format.
