Comedian Kunal Kamra on Tuesday shared a note on "how to kill an artist democratically" after the massive backlash he received following his controversial show in Mumbai. The 36-year-old wrote a step-by-step guide on how the "political weapon" chokes satirists just enough until they are left with two options: become puppets or wither in silence.
"This isn't just a playbook," Kamra wrote on X. "It's a political weapon. A silencing machine."
The outrage against Kumal Kamra began after he sang a parody version of "Bholi Si Surat", a popular song from the 1997 blockbuster Dil To Pagal Hai allegedly targeting Shinde. He also used the "gaddar" (traitor) jibe against the Shiv Sena leader, who led a rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray in 2022. As clips from the show went viral, Shiv Sena supporters vandalised the venue, The Habitat Studio.
The Mumbai police arrested 12 members of the party, including Rahool Kanal, who led the vandalism. Kamal told the Indian Express that they had no intention of damaging the venue. “We had no intention to vandalise. We went there just to talk, but the response we got there triggered it and it happened in the heat of the moment… Had we planned it, we would have carried something with us (to vandalise). But we had nothing, not even our party flag. The point is it was not pre-planned,” he said.
Kunal Kamra should apologise to Eknath Shinde: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday demanded Kamra apologise to Shinde. "There is freedom to do stand-up comedy, but he cannot speak whatever he wants. The people of Maharashtra have decided who the traitor is. Kunal Kamra should apologise. This will not be tolerated. There is the right to comedy, but if it is being done to defame our Dy CM Eknath Shinde purposely, it is not right," he said. "One may create humour, but making derogatory statements cannot be accepted. One cannot encroach on others' freedom and ideology. This cannot be justified as the Freedom of speech."
'Won't be hiding under my bed': Kunal Kamra
Kamra has meanwhile maintained that he would cooperate with the authorities but refused to apologise. "I don't fear this mob, and I will not be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down," he said. The comedian also defended his right to free speech, criticised the targeting of Mumbai’s Habitat Studio, and questioned the selective application of the law.
"An entertainment venue is merely a platform. A space for all sorts of shows. Habitat (or any other venue) is not responsible for my comedy, nor does it have any power or control over what I say or do," he wrote in a social media post. Slamming the vandalism at Habitat Studio by Shiv Sena workers, he said, "Attacking a venue for a comedian’s words is as senseless as overturning a lorry carrying tomatoes because you didn’t like the butter chicken you were served."
Uddhav Thackeray backs comedian
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said Kamra has not done anything wrong. “Kamra merely expressed his views. He stated the facts and voiced the public opinion,” Thackeray said. “Kamra hasn't done anything wrong...These traitors don’t see Solapurkar and Koratkar who insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” Thackeray said.
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