Comedian accuses music giant of suppressing satire under legal guise, slams political backlash over Eknath Shinde “gaddar” joke
Mumbai, March 26: Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has launched a sharp attack on music label T-Series, accusing it of issuing a copyright strike against his new YouTube stand-up video titled ‘Naya Bharat’. The move comes amidst a wave of controversy surrounding one of Kamra’s jokes referring to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a “gaddar” (traitor).
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Kamra argued that his usage qualifies as fair use, stating, “Hello @TSeries, stop being a stooge. Parody & satire come under fair use legally. I haven’t used the lyrics or the original instrumental of the song. If you take this video down, every cover song/dance video can be taken down. Creators, please take note of this.”
Kamra didn’t hold back, accusing monopolies like T-Series of behaving like “mafia” entities. He urged viewers to watch or download his video before it’s potentially taken down. “Every monopoly in India is nothing short of a mafia,” he added. “FYI – T-Series, stay in Tamil Nadu.”
The controversy around Kamra intensified after his “gaddar” remark allegedly targeted at Eknath Shinde during a live comedy show, drawing sharp criticism from political circles. In response, Shiv Sena workers vandalized Mumbai’s The Habitat comedy club, a known venue for Kamra’s performances.
Kamra later shared a satirical video mocking the attack on the venue, doubling down on his stance.
Reacting to the unfolding events, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said, “CM Devendra Fadnavis has already responded. Action will be taken as per the law.”
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, addressing the state Assembly, took a hard stance, saying, “We appreciate humor and satire, but not when freedom of expression becomes a tool for tyranny. This artist wants attention by attacking the Prime Minister, Chief Justice, and now Eknath Shinde.”
He further slammed Kamra’s act as “low-quality comedy,” stating that it’s for the public to decide whether Eknath Shinde is a traitor or not.
Despite the criticism, Kamra’s video continues to gain traction online, with many rallying behind his right to satire and artistic freedom.