He is one of India’s best-known standup comics – known not only for his humour but also for his satire and self-aware observations. Vir Das also performs abroad extensively; having done some very popular Netflix specials as well. Now Das is in the headlines for a 6-7 minute video which is the last part of his performance at the Kennedy Centre. People on social media have been outraging against the video which they allege insults India. #VirDas and #TwoIndias have been trending and at least one FIR has been registered against Das for this video.
This is a country ‘we love and are proud of’ he says below the video. In the video, Das speaks about a number of our flaws and social evils; our hypocrisies and double standards. In the video, he also talks about how people are going to outrage about his video and say it isn't funny. In the end, he speaks about representing a ‘great people’ who built a ‘great thing’ and about believing in that India. He asks what appears to be a largely NRI audience to cheer for that India.
Soon after the video went viral, Das issued this statement.
Clearly upset at the mention of ‘gan grape’ in the video, this tweet shows other countries are much worse for women’s safety than India.
Many thought that Das’s video is not funny – farcical sketches such as these with the attendant sound effects is more their speed. Fair enough – such people can give Das’s video a miss. Many chose not to, however, and instead chose to get very, very angry.
Some pointed out that Das repeatedly spoke about his pride in his country.
As activist Anna Vetticad says in this tweet, most of those outraging about Das’s video, seem to have a problem with the articulation of our problems. Either they don’t want to admit that the problems exist or they merely don’t want others to know because it's bad for the image/business?
At a time when many in Indian mainstream media have become pliant cheerleaders for those in power, it is often up to standup comedians to ask the tough questions and speak truth to power.
Das clearly anticipated the sort of barrage of hate that would come his way as a result of his video. The fact that he still choose to call out those in positions of authority would have taken courage. In the recent past, a comedian was jailed for a joke he had not even cracked! We need more satire and the kind of comedy that punches up and makes us think, suggests this tweet.
This refers to the fact that Sonu Sood who has done a lot for people during the pandemic is facing raids from tax authorities. At the same time while Kangana Ranaut who recently spoke about our independence as something given to us as ‘bheek’ (alms to a beggar) has received one of the nation’s highest honours.
One of my favourite podcasters Anurag Minus Verma points this a glaring absence in Das’s list of problems in India – caste. This is true – of all the social evils of India, caste is possibly the most persistent and pernicious. It is perhaps a mark of Das’s own privilege that he overlooked this.
As usual, Manjul’s insightful cartoon speaks about how all the outrage around Vir Das’s video actually proves the point that he was making. The problem is that we Indians would rather not talk about the problems that exist in our society.
Is this tweet offensive because it tells untruths or because it’s content is uncomfortably close to the truth? Why do so many Indians feel that somehow speaking about the problems is worse than the problem itself? To those who found the video offensive, I would say, don't hate the messenger. Help change the message
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