Bengaluru, Dec. 1: Less than a week after noted stand-up comedian Munwawar Faruqui’s shows were cancelled, another popular stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra’s shows that were slated for the next 20 days in the city have been cancelled.
Announcing this news through an acerbic post, on his Instagram account, he said “Hello Bengaluru people, I am happy to inform you that my shows in Bengaluru which were scheduled for over next 20 days have been cancelled.”
“They have cancelled for two reasons. Firstly, we didn’t get special permission to seat 45 people in the venue that can seat more. Secondly, a threat has been made to shut down the venue, if I were to ever perform there. I guess this is also part of the Covid protocol and new guidelines. I suppose I am seen as a variant of the virus now,” he sarcastically remarked.
Continuing his message, Mr Kamra added that for those on Twitter that have been wondering how ‘A Kamra goes on to perform while Fruqui has had to quit comedy’, we can find solace in the fact that the ruling class is at-least trying to oppress the equality.
“May be if we continue down the road of equal oppression, we would get to a point of equal liberation, in a post climate change era,” he said.
Describing how to cancel shows or target an artist, Mr Kamra said that putting up steps on how to cancel shows so its easier for other caders to follow. “If they use this method and a show is not cancelled, I will give up being a comedian,” he said and then goes on to explain four-steps of how to get a show cancelled in a sarcastic way.
According to him, show can be cancelled using five step formula; the first step is to inform the police that there could be violence. Second step is to inform the owner of the venue that there could be violence. Third step is to inform the artist that if he/she/they will be coming there will be violence. Step four is to remind the venue owner what could happen if the artist manages to do a show despite the threats and lastly be ready with celebration memes that show your victory and togetherness in missing the point.
“You can also apply this formula to an artist that you don’t agree with, you don’t find funny or don’t like their art. You can also use it to keep yourself busy and keep life exciting,” he said.
The 33-year-old comedian signs off with a question: “Now to ponder on my new family friendly comedy show. Tell me where to go from here? Auroville or Kodai?
Mr Kamra is best known for his political satire and is based in Mumbai. He too has courted controversy and faced three month ban in January 2020, from five Indian air carriers after he allegedly questioned a renowned News anchor and a new channel owner in Indigo airline on January 28 about the anchor’s journalistic credibility and his political views.
Mr Kamra is also facing contempt charges in connection with a series of tweets he had put out in November 2020 criticising the Supreme Court. Seemingly undeterred by this proceeding, in his defence, Mr Kamra has stated that jokes need no defence. “My tweets were not published with the intention of diminishing the faith of the people in the highest court,” he had said in his affidavit and in the same he had also pointed out comedians like Munwar Faruqui are jailed for jokes they did not crack and school students are interrogated for sedition.
