Vir Das, widely known for his sharp and irreverent humor, recently shared his thoughts on the state of Indian award shows, particularly taking aim at the absurd amount of corporate sponsorships that dominate these events.
The stand-up comedian and actor, with his trademark wit, poked fun at how difficult it is to deliver edgy jokes when the opening minutes of a show are filled with lengthy sponsor acknowledgments.
He humorously pointed out that the corporate clutter often overshadows the entertainment itself, making it almost impossible to get into the spirit of an award ceremony, especially for comedians known for their cutting-edge humor.
Vir took to Instagram, quipping, “While watching a major entertainment awards show, I’m pretty sure a few fellow Indian comedians play a game in our head. We wonder why Indian award shows don’t use modern stand-up comedians at major awards. Then… we think of some of the jokes we would do, the utter sh*tstorm that would follow, then we think it’s probably for the best."
His playful self-awareness highlights the tension between modern, edgy comedy and the more sanitized, sponsor-driven atmosphere of traditional Indian award shows.
Vir didn’t stop there, he continued, “Also, we remember the opening monologue is at the top of the show, which logically requires showing up on time and staying for the whole show, which again reaffirms… probably for the best. Also, just rhythm-wise… it’s hard to do an edgy joke after saying ‘Manikchand Pan Pasand Fun Flips Zorro Plus Zandu Bandu MDH MCD Motorola Parivar…’"
Vir's comments are likely a response to his recent observations of global awards shows, such as the Academy Awards, where stand-up comedy played a key role in keeping the audience engaged.
His remarks also hint at the ongoing controversy surrounding India’s Got Latent, a topic that sparked widespread debates about freedom of speech and the growing influence of new media in India’s entertainment industry.
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Last month, Vir had criticized the mainstream media’s handling of the India’s Got Latent issue, calling it “a bunch of irrelevant mainstream media anchors bordering extinction coming together to take down new media that gets millions more views."
Through these remarks, Vir once again underscored his belief in the importance of embracing modern, edgy media while calling out outdated practices.
For the unaware, later last year, Vir Das created history by becoming the first Indian to host the International Emmy Awards
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