Vir Das responds to selective criticism charge: Did Congress jokes for 7 years
Vir Das hit back after an X user accused him of targeting only the BJP-led Centre. The exchange renewed focus on his political satire and the backlash it often attracts.
Comedian Vir Das has responded sharply to a social media user who accused him of selectively criticising the BJP-led central government while ignoring opposition-ruled states, saying his satire has always targeted those in power, regardless of party.
The exchange began after Das posted about the unfolding economic situation, urging people to question their leadership. His post on X drew a response from a user who claimed he had never questioned governments led by leaders such as Mamata Banerjee, MK Stalin and Arvind Kejriwal, and accused him of being “one-sided”.
Responding to the criticism, Das pushed back, stating that his work has never been limited to one political party. “Ha! Sir. I did jokes about the Congress on primetime television every night for seven years. Done jokes, songs, sketches, about every single leader in power long before this government. Will be doing them long after for the next one. In any sensible society, with power comes parody. Accept that and move the hell on (sic),” he wrote.
See the post here:
In his original post, Das had spoken about the climate around public discourse. “In the near future, as this economic crisis unfolds, it’s going to be important for us to ask questions of our leadership. When you do, your replies and your timeline will be flooded with hate and attacks. Don’t take it personally, it simply means the question was a really good one. The quality of the question is directly proportional to the number of anonymous replies (sic),” he said.
See the post here:
The exchange has once again put the spotlight on Das’s brand of political satire, which often engages with current affairs and those in positions of authority.
Stand-up comedy in India has increasingly functioned as both entertainment and commentary, with comedians frequently addressing social and political issues – sometimes inviting backlash.
Das himself has been at the centre of such debates in the past. In November 2021, his monologue Two Indias, performed at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, triggered controversy and led to multiple police complaints. The piece explored what it described as the country’s dual realities across issues such as Covid-19, pollution, farmers’ protests and crimes against women.
Widely regarded as one of the key voices in India’s modern stand-up scene, Das has performed over 100 shows and created several comedy specials. He has also appeared in films including Delhi Belly, Go Goa Gone, Shaadi Ke Side Effects and his latest, Happy Patel.
In 2023, he won the International Emmy Award for Best Comedy Series for his Netflix special Vir Das: Landing.
Comedian Vir Das has responded sharply to a social media user who accused him of selectively criticising the BJP-led central government while ignoring opposition-ruled states, saying his satire has always targeted those in power, regardless of party.
The exchange began after Das posted about the unfolding economic situation, urging people to question their leadership. His post on X drew a response from a user who claimed he had never questioned governments led by leaders such as Mamata Banerjee, MK Stalin and Arvind Kejriwal, and accused him of being “one-sided”.
Responding to the criticism, Das pushed back, stating that his work has never been limited to one political party. “Ha! Sir. I did jokes about the Congress on primetime television every night for seven years. Done jokes, songs, sketches, about every single leader in power long before this government. Will be doing them long after for the next one. In any sensible society, with power comes parody. Accept that and move the hell on (sic),” he wrote.
See the post here:
In his original post, Das had spoken about the climate around public discourse. “In the near future, as this economic crisis unfolds, it’s going to be important for us to ask questions of our leadership. When you do, your replies and your timeline will be flooded with hate and attacks. Don’t take it personally, it simply means the question was a really good one. The quality of the question is directly proportional to the number of anonymous replies (sic),” he said.
See the post here:
The exchange has once again put the spotlight on Das’s brand of political satire, which often engages with current affairs and those in positions of authority.
Stand-up comedy in India has increasingly functioned as both entertainment and commentary, with comedians frequently addressing social and political issues – sometimes inviting backlash.
Das himself has been at the centre of such debates in the past. In November 2021, his monologue Two Indias, performed at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, triggered controversy and led to multiple police complaints. The piece explored what it described as the country’s dual realities across issues such as Covid-19, pollution, farmers’ protests and crimes against women.
Widely regarded as one of the key voices in India’s modern stand-up scene, Das has performed over 100 shows and created several comedy specials. He has also appeared in films including Delhi Belly, Go Goa Gone, Shaadi Ke Side Effects and his latest, Happy Patel.
In 2023, he won the International Emmy Award for Best Comedy Series for his Netflix special Vir Das: Landing.
