Murli Prasad Sharma aka Munna Bhai, is a famous TikTok creator with millions of followers. He is well known for creating humorous videos and is the tribe leader of TikTokers from Kurla, Bhandup and Chembur. But given that his father had wished him to be a YouTube star instead, Munna pretends to act accordingly. Whenever his parents are in town, Munna Bhai converts his house into a full-fledged studio with the help of his sidekick Circuit and pretends to create high quality production YouTube videos. This façade goes on for years and keeps Munna’s parents proud and happy.
However, Munna’s truth is revealed when his father meets an old acquaintance Dr Asthana and they decide to betroth Munna to Asthana’s daughter, Dr Suman ‘Chinki’. The father-daughter duos are YouTube celebrities and are well known for creating multiple viral web-series and sketches. When Munna’s family visits their home, the maid recognises Munna from TikTok and asks him to collaborate with her. This makes Dr Asthana angry and when Munna’s parents try to explain the situation, he insults them by replying “ok boomer”. Munna’s father and mother, aghast, leave for their village and decide never to use the internet again.
Munna, after creating multiple revenge videos on the song Thukra ke mera pyaar, mera intekaam dekhegi, decides that the only way to redeem himself is to become a YouTuber. He decides to go to a YouTube academy to learn the art of making viral videos. However, as fate would have it, Dr Asthana heads this academy and vows to throw him out.
Munna soon realises that he has no talent to become a YouTuber, but his TikTok skills make him famous amongst other students in no time. Munna confronts the senior batch while they are bullying the juniors and makes them dance on signature TikTok songs. This video of seniors dancing on Baby Doll gets millions of views and a lot of students (mostly those with sob stories and a tough past) get invited to dance reality shows. Munna helps a depressed actor recovering from heartbreak. Together, they create tons of “Wherever you are, stay happy my love” themed videos which helps the actor get a call to play Sunil Shetty’s part in Dhadkan 2.
Munna starts a viral campaign called #Jaadu_ki_Jhapppi and soon everyone starts giving a Jhappi to people who need it. New anchors hugging panel members after the debate, parents hugging children after beating them, judges hugging criminals after announcing their sentence, politicians hugging students after the protest and Ola/Uber drivers hugging auto-rickshaw drivers after stealing their passengers — all these scenes become quite common.
This sudden rise of TikTokers in his academy makes Dr Asthana angry. He finds out that his students are now busy making cringe videos on TikTok and have totally ignored YouTube. He receives few of these videos on his WhatsApp groups and decides to take action against Munna. However, Chinki, who is now fond of Munna, stops him from doing so. Meanwhile, Munna is busy with Anand Bhai, an old timer at the academy who hasn’t created a single video yet because of his condition. This makes Dr Asthana angry and he decides to humiliate Munna by announcing a viva exam for him. Munna starts preparing for this exam, but gets distracted by his friend Zaheer who leaves the academy midway without becoming a celebrity. Heartbroken, Munna appears for the exam but announces his retirement from all social media apps in front of everyone. He then leaves the academy along with Circuit and his other followers.
Just when Dr Asthana is about to get in the celebratory mode, Chinki confronts her father. She tells him that she knows that he watches TikTok videos secretly. She reminds him that TikTok gives platform to people who can’t afford better means and help them get famous. She then shows him the video of his mysterious laugh getting only 100 views on YouTube but almost 10 million view on TikTok. Unconvinced, Dr Asthana starts walking towards the exit door when suddenly the song I’m a rider, provider starts playing and Anand Bhai gets up from his wheelchair spitting water in TikTok style. Everyone is amused and Dr Asthana eventually realises his folly. He calls Munna’s parents and tells them about his achievements.
Munna’s father forgives him and together they create a slo-mo Jadoo ki Jhappi video. Munna marries Chinki and they TikTok happily ever after.
(Sudhanshu Ramteke is a stand-up comedian)