Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan is back for another stab at American political glory – four years after his animated run for president in the 2004 Amitabh for America campaign – all courtesy of Badmash, the South Asian American comic and animation website. This time, Amitabh is forgoing the presidency and going straight for the Prime Minister of America position.

“I will go to America, where the only competition is Bobby Jindal. Easy! And as their first Prime Minister, I will confidently tell the people, ‘Yes, I can.’ When everybody says it can’t be done, I will do it. If they tell me we can’t ship jobs overseas, I will tell them, my cousin Bunti has a very big boat. It can be done. If they tell me we already have enough red tape, I will say ‘Get lost lafunga, we do not accept red tape. Only bribes.’ Dishoom baby! Two times only, Dishoom!” – Amitabh Bachchan, Larry King Live, January 18, 2008

While the new video is hilarious and has even better art than the last one, the sharp political critique that the Amitabh for America campaign had in 2004 is gone.

Back in 2004, when Amitabh was set to rescue America from Bush’s policies and Kerry’s blandness with a single Dishoom (the Bollywood sound effect for beating up bad guys) – I was all for it. Amitabh was the hero that America needed.

But with the full time spectacle of the Hillary and Barack show, Amitabh’s scotch-swilling humor seems to be missing the point. The only critique these guys dare to make of Obama is that he looks bad in a turban. But maybe that is the point. Whereas in 2004, the comedy was aimed at the dismal candidates – this year the joke seems to be more about the carnival that this election has become.

Either way, I’m sorry to say the Big B has lost my vote, but I’m happy to be so engaged in this year’s election that I’d rather pay attention to the real thing. – Neelanjana Banerjee