Jaipur: Comedian Shyam Rangeela, 29, who is popular for his comedy videos mimicking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has announced that he will contest the Lok Sabha elections against the prime minister from Modi’s constituency of Varanasi. In an interview with The Wire, Rangeela, a resident of Rajasthan’s Sriganganagar district, talks about his decision to contest from Varanasi, how he once was a bhakt of PM Modi and why political comedy is not well received in India.
Excerpts follow.
Why did you decide to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi against PM Modi?
The recent incident in Surat where the BJP won unopposed after the nomination of the opposition Congress’s candidates was rejected, left a mark on my mind. We saw a similar incident in Indore too. In a democracy, it is not right if an election doesn’t take place at all. Instead of inducting the Congress candidate into the party, the BJP, which is the largest political party in the world, should have allowed a contest for the sake of the democracy. It was after this that I thought of contesting from Varanasi. By contesting the elections against the prime minister, I want to assure the public that at least one person will not withdraw his nomination. I felt that in every seat there should be at least one candidate who will not withdraw even if he gets 2-4 votes.
Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty
Politics is the main component of your comedy. What would you say about the present political scene in the country?
Politics is the comedy today. Comedians are being banned because of politics, while there is no dearth of comedy happening in politics.
Have you thought about the monetary costs of contesting an election and garnering support? How do you plan to arrange it?
I don’t have any funds. Whatever I do will be with the help and support of the public. Abhi toh jhola hai bas. Uthake chal denge aur kya. [I just have a jhola. I will take it and hit the road, what else.]
This ‘jhola uthake’ phrase is a popular dialogue of the prime minister. You often talk of once being a supporter of PM Modi. What changed?
I was a big supporter of Modi ji till 2016. Back in 2014, when the BJP came to power, like many others, I too felt that he is someone who will bring change from the corruption of the previous Congress regime. At the time I was a bhakt, who would often post on social media in his support. I was overjoyed when I got selected for The Great Indian Laughter Challenge. Till date, my mimicry of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from a leaked video of that show is hugely appreciated. But that video was never aired on television as I was told by the channel that they didn’t get approval from people in the government. I was devastated after the episode. That day I felt that I was only mimicking Modi ji, which was harmless comedy. Why was my comedy dropped?
Political comedy is a popular genre throughout the world. What do you think about the political comedy scenario in India?
Here, there is a lack of understanding of satire or comedy. Yahan chalti nahin hai ye [It doesn’t work here]. At the moment, I independently make videos on YouTube. I don’t get many shows because when you do political comedy, neither Congress nor BJP governments call you. If I make fun of Rahul Gandhi, Congress governments won’t invite me, and it’s the same with BJP governments for PM Modi.
When do you plan to go to Varanasi? Will you be accompanied by others?
I plan to go to Varanasi around May 10. Four-five of us will go and I hope more people will connect with us once we are there.
Do you feel people will support you in Varanasi?
Of course! Ever since my announcement, I have been getting messages of people who are support me. My phone has been constantly ringing.
Will you be campaigning in Varanasi in your trademark style, mimicking PM Modi?
Bilkul [Absolutely]. I have already said that I will reply to him in his own voice.
