Pratigyan Das
A viral crowd-work segment from a stand-up show by comedian Pranit More has created a ruckus on social media. The video clip showed Himanshu Jangra, an audience, recounting a date where he spent Rs 370 on chicken biryani and then suggested that he expected physical intimacy in return. The remark was criticised as many argued that it reduced women to trans actions. Many viewers were also upset that the comedian laughed along with the story instead of challenging it. What began as trolling snowballed into a bigger issue when users digged out another clip from the same show involving a medical student named Sejal Pawar, who joked about the genitals of male cadavers, drawing criticism from viewers, who found it disrespectful to body donors and contradictory to medical ethics. The fallout was imminent. While Jangra was fired from his job, More and Pawar have publicly apologised for their act.
Over the years, stand-up comedy shows have been shrouded in controversies, courtesy their ‘offensive’ jokes. Recently, Samay Raina’s comedy show’s format became the subject of debate after remarks made by guests and participants triggered complaints and legal scrutiny. Similarly, a few years back, Vir Das faced controversy over his ‘Two Indias’ monologue, which sparked political debate and police complaints. In India, comedy has never been merely about laughter.
History is replete with instances when comedians served as social commentators, cultural critics and agents of change through folk theatre, cinema, television, or stand-up comedy. Through hu mour, they have questioned authority, exposed social evils and bridged social divides. At a time when dissent was dangerous, jesters in the courts of kings enjoyed the privilege of speaking uncomfortable truths through humour. Folk theatre traditions such as Jatra in eastern India, Tamasha in Maharashtra, Yakshagana in Karnataka often featured comic characters who commented on social issues, hypocrisy and local governance. Similarly, during the 1950s–1970s, comedians such as Johnny Walker and Mehmood not only brought comic relief to films but also reflected social realities such as poverty, unemployment, bureaucracy and class inequality. The arrival of television expanded comedy’s reach.
Shows such as ‘Flop Show’ by Jaspal Bhatti became landmarks in Indian satire. The emergence of modern stand-up comedy transformed humour from scripted entertainment into direct social commentary. The comedian became a storyteller reflecting the aspirations, frustrations and contradictions of modern India. But then why are stand-up comedians facing public scrutiny? Well, the rise of social media has transformed comedy into a competition for attention. In an environment where algorithms reward engagement, the loudest and most provocative voices often travel furthest. A nuanced observation of society may invite thought, but a controversial one-liner generates millions of views overnight. This has created an environment where shock frequently eclipses substance, tempting some performers to chase virality rather than craftsmanship. Comedy reflects its audience.
Many younger viewers prefer in formal, unfiltered conversations over polished performances. Some comedians, therefore, use slang and cuss words because they believe it resonates with their target audience. The growing popularity of crowd-work comedy, which often depends on improvisation, has led comedians to drift from written content. To draw quick laughs, conversations often divert towards relationships, sex and personal embarrassments—topics that easily generate viral moments but may not always produce lasting comedy. Moreover, lack of accountability has also led to the decline in comedy standards.
Today, social media rewards visibility more than quality. Under the guise of Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, which give citizens the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression, a few of them have misused this right. So, should comedians be censored? No. Comedy thrives in freedom, not censorship. Yet freedom is strongest when accompanied by judgement, self-restraint and respect for the audience.
The writer is a journalist.
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