Controversies surrounding Kunal Kamra: Comedian Kunal Kamra has once again found himself in hot water, this time because of his satirical portrayal of Eknath Shinde, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra. Massive uproar over his most recent YouTube video resulted in several FIRs, threats of legal action, and even an assault on a recording studio.
By changing the words of “Bholi Si Surat” from “Dil To Pagal Hai,” Kamra gave Maharashtra’s political scene a musical twist in the video. He sang, “Thane pe rickshaw, Chehra pe daadhi, aankhon pe chashma, haaye,” in reference to Shinde’s 2022 revolt. Guwhati mein chup jaaye ek jhalak dikhlaye kabhi. To gaddar nazar wo aaye, meri nazar se tum dekho. “Haaye!” referring to him as a “traitor.” As soon as the video became viral, Shinde’s fans were enraged and protested, calling for the comic to be fired.
Leaders of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena denounced Kamra’s comments as the situation grew and called for stringent judicial action. This episode has once again spurred discussions on free speech and humor in India as political tensions rise. Let’s examine some additional instances in which Kunal Kamra’s troubles made news.
The Legal Battle Kunal Kamra Won Against IT Regulations:
Kunal Kamra contested the IT Rules in 2023, claiming that it was against free speech to let a government fact-check unit to flag information as fraudulent. A major clause was declared unlawful by the Bombay High Court in a divided decision, upholding Kamra’s censorship concerns.
Ola CEO vs. Kunal Kamra: A Social Media Conflict
Bhavish Aggarwal, the CEO of Ola Electric, was recently criticized by Kunal Kamra for unresolved consumer concerns and delayed refunds. Kamra persevered despite Aggarwal’s challenge to assist or remain quiet, which fueled a discussion about corporate responsibility.
Salman Khan’s Joke by Kunal Kamra:
During a recent stand-up show, comedian Kunal Kamra made a joke about Bollywood actor Salman Khan, which put him in the middle of controversy. Salman reportedly contemplated bringing a defamation lawsuit, but Kamra declined to provide an apology for his comments.
Salman’s prior legal issues, such as the 1998 blackbuck poaching case and the 2002 hit-and-run incident in which he was charged with driving over people who were sleeping on a Mumbai sidewalk, were included in the joke.
Kamra’s Video Edit of PM Modi’s Trip to Germany Is Criticized:
Mehengayi Daayan was used in place of the original song in an altered video that Kunal Kamra posted in May 2020 of a little child performing for Prime Minister Modi in Germany. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights stepped in when the child’s father raised objections. Later, Kamra said he never intended to make fun of the youngster and removed the video.
Kunal Kamra Causes Legal Issues With His Middle Finger Gesture:
In 2020, Kunal Kamra protested the Supreme Court’s bail decision for Arnab Goswami by posting a picture of himself giving CJI Sharad Arvind Bobde the finger. The performance resulted in contempt proceedings, which strengthened Kamra’s reputation as a fearless yet divisive comic.
A legal plea is sparked by Kunal Kamra’s “Brahmin-Baniya” remark:
Kunal Kamra was sued in May 2020 for referring to the Supreme Court as a “Brahmin-Baniya” issue on his program. Kamra justified it as a criticism of power relations, but petitioners said it was insulting.
Following the cancellation of the show, Kunal Kamra sent an open letter to VHP:
Kunal Kamra reacted with an open letter in September 2022 after the VHP and Bajrang Dal threatened to cancel his event in Gurugram. Declaring that his satire was directed at the administration rather than religion, he challenged the VHP to denounce Nathuram Godse and demanded evidence that he had ever disdained Hinduism.
Kunal Kamra and Arnab Goswami’s Face-Off in Midair:
Comedian Kunal Kamra challenged journalist Arnab Goswami’s reporting when they were aboard a flight in January 2020. Goswami remained mute in spite of Kamra’s repeated statements. Later on Twitter (now X), Kamra posted a two-minute video of the encounter in which he referred to Goswami as a “coward” for evading his inquiries. After that, Kamra was banned for six months by IndiGo, and indefinite bans were imposed by Air India, SpiceJet, and GoAir. The event sparked a national discussion about acceptable behavior on airplanes and freedom of expression.
