Comedian and writer Varun Grover addressed the ongoing debate around freedom of expression in comedy, albeit with his signature wit. Ahead of his latest stand-up video, Varun added a disclaimer that subtly referenced the controversy surrounding fellow comedian Kunal Kamra.
"These are jokes. Venue ki isme koi galti nahi hain. Mera bhi nahin hai. Humare time ki hai. If offended, break a clock," the disclaimer at the beginning of the video read, indirectly alluding to the political backlash Kunal recently faced.
During his act, Varun also quipped that doing comedy is 'difficult' in India in today's time. While the comedian refrained from naming anyone directly, the timing and tone of his statement made the connection to Kunal's controversy unmistakable.
Take a look:
Kunal Kamra controversy
Last month, Kunal sparked controversy after making satirical comments about Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during one of his shows in Mumbai. The fallout was swift and dramatic as members of the Shiv Sena vandalised the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, where the comedian's performance was held.
An FIR was registered at Khar police station, Mumbai, against Kunal for allegedly calling Shinde 'Gaddar (traitor)'. During the show, Kunal sang a parody version of a song from the film Dil Toh Pagal Hai which used the word 'gaddar'. He then went on to joke about how Shinde rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray and split the Shiv Sena in 2022.
However, Kunal refused to apologise, stating, "What I said is exactly what Mr Ajit Pawar (1st Deputy CM) said about Mr Eknath Shinde (2nd Deputy CM). I don't fear this mob, and I will not be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down."
The Mumbai Police have filed multiple cases against the comedian. He subsequently approached the Madras High Court and secured interim protection from arrest, which has been extended till April 17.
Kunal is yet to appear before the Mumbai Police to record his statement despite three summons being served to him.
