- Thursday, March 06, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Vir Das recently took a swipe at Indian award shows and the controversy surrounding India’s Got Latent in a social media post. The comedian humorously pointed out how delivering an “edgy joke” at an award show in India is a challenge, considering the long list of sponsors that must be acknowledged before getting to the punchline. His remarks were made while commenting on the Academy Awards hosted by Conan O’Brien.
Sharing his thoughts, Vir Das wrote, “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 awards shows don’t use modern stand-up comedians at major awards. Then…we think of some of the jokes we would do, the utter shitstorm that would follow, then we think it’s probably for the best.”
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He continued with a satirical take on the sponsorship-heavy nature of Indian award shows, adding, “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…'”
His post quickly went viral, with many users reacting with laugh-out-loud emojis and comments appreciating his sharp humor. Fans and fellow comedians resonated with his take, highlighting the constraints faced by Indian comedians in mainstream events.
Vir Das’s remarks also come in the wake of the India’s Got Latent controversy, which has sparked debates around censorship and media narratives. Last month, he criticized media coverage of the controversy, stating, “A bunch of irrelevant mainstream media anchors bordering extinction coming together to take down new media that gets million more views.”
His recent statements continue to shed light on the evolving landscape of Indian entertainment, where modern stand-up comedy still struggles to find a stronghold in traditional formats like award shows. As social media gains more prominence, independent comedians like Vir Das are increasingly using their platforms to call out industry norms and challenge outdated practices.
