The Simpsons, a very famous American animated sitcom, first aired in 1989. Its plot centers around the Simpson family living in the fictional town of Springfield. This family includes Homer, his wife Marge, and their children Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. The series is not an ordinary children's cartoon because it sharply satirizes American society, politics, religion, and capitalism, often touching upon societal weaknesses and contradictions through humor.
A recent story involves the character Apu, whose voice actors were heard after nine years. This character was long at the center of controversy, so serious that for nine years he could not utter a single phrase. In America, people from South Asia were once called Apu.
Apu's journey began with the show in 1989. He is depicted as an Indian immigrant living in Springfield and owns a store called Quick E-Mart. However, his surname—Nahasapeemapetilon—is even more interesting. When Apu says, 'My name is Apu Nahasapeemapetilon,' it has served as a target of ridicule for white viewers. Although he was a popular character for a long time, his manner of speaking, the so-called Indian accent, and his profession were constantly criticized. Critics argued that through this character, a stereotypical image of South Asian, particularly Indian, people was presented.
The situation drastically changed in 2017 due to the documentary 'The Problem with Apu' by comedian Hari Kondabolu. This film brought to light the hidden forms of discrimination faced by people from South Asia because of their appearance and accents associated with Apu. After the release of the documentary, these incidents began to occur on a large scale. In this film, Hari, who is of Indian descent, allowed representatives of Asian descent to speak about how they were called Apu and mocked in real life by imitating Apu's name and manner of speech.
Hari Kondabolu also began criticizing American actor Hank Azaria, who had voiced the character Apu for a long time. However, as the controversy escalated, he distanced himself from Apu. As a result, after 2017, Apu sometimes appeared in the show but was given no lines because Hank Azaria stepped away from participating. Nevertheless, after nine years, Apu's voice sounded in the show again. The character was voiced by Indo-American actor Sunil Malhotra.
It came as a surprise to viewers that the show included a narrative about Apu's long silence. In a new episode released on October 18, Apu appears as the eerie character 'Daft Monk.' In the story, the residents of Springfield repeatedly try to kill him. Later, he removes his helmet in front of the townspeople and says that they left him to die and acted as if he never existed.
Essentially, Apu's complaint is a critique of the show's approach itself. He reports that when he returned to his family and the Quick E-Mart store, everything was empty. When walking through the town, no one noticed him. This story points to a real situation where the show did not allow Apu to speak for almost eight or nine years after the controversies arose. Marge apologizes to him, saying they wanted to take the right step but didn't know what to do.
Hari Kondabolu also drew attention to another awkward situation. He noted that it is frustrating that the American series used the voice of a non-American actor for an Indian character for many years. He questioned why the creators did not find a South Asian actor to voice this character. According to him, the limited portrayal of an Indian immigrant, including his pronunciation and work in the store, reinforces a stereotypical image of South Asians.
Kondabolu's statements sparked a major discussion in America, after which Hank Azaria withdrew. Now that Apu has truly returned to the show after about ten years, he is voiced by Indo-American actor Sunil Malhotra. Furthermore, Apu's wife, Manduhala's, voice was provided by Indo-American actress Jenina Gavankar.
