New Delhi: Amid threats to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra over his recent show ‘Naya Bharat’ and the temporary closure of The Habitat, one of Mumbai’s most popular gig spots, a conversation has renewed on social media platforms regarding the constitutional right to free speech and freedom of expression.
Kamra, who is no stranger to controversy, has been facing the ire of Shiv Sainiks of the Eknath Shinde faction since he released a video of the show in which he performed several parody songs, taking a dig at Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Subsequently, a group of Shiv Sena members ransacked the comedy club where the video was recorded, leading to the club announcing temporary closure. An FIR was also registered against Kamra.
While the incident has stirred debate on social media platforms, as well as on national television, several politicians, fellow stand-up comedians, activists and journalists have backed Kamra and criticised the vandalism.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray as well as his son and party leader Aaditya Thackeray came in support of the comedian.
“I don’t think Kunal Karma said anything wrong. Calling a traitor a traitor is not a matter of attacking someone; a traitor is a traitor,” Uddhav Thackeray told mediapersons on Monday.
Meanwhile, Aaditya Thackeray said that the comedian had spoken only the truth. “Mindhe’s coward gang breaks the comedy show stage where comedian @kunalkamra88 put out a song on eknath mindhe which was 100% true. Only an insecure coward would react to a song by someone. Btw law and order in the state? Another attempt to undermine the CM and Home Minister by eknath mindhe,” he posted on X.
NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar leader Anish Gawande questioned the state of law and order in Maharashtra. In a post on X, he said, “Destroying comedy studios, digging graves, inciting riots – is this the vision of New Maharashtra? Those who cannot create jobs are now busy snatching the livelihood of others. Is this what will create a $1 trillion economy? We need direction, not drama. Focus on the real issues – employment, education and investment.”
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Stand-up comedians, many of whom have performed in the club, took to social media reacting to the incident.
“Can people at least apply basic common sense and stop calling it Kunal Kamra’s studio. It’s a performing arts venue. A venue that doesn’t have anything to do with Kamra. Thousand other arti0st perform there. Even the biggest Kamra hater has to realise this is akin to Kamra appearing in your society tomorrow and people coming in and breaking down your whole society cuz he was there once,” Stand-up comic Abhijit Ganguly posted on X.
Comedian Sahil Shah said in a post on Facebook that Indian comedians are stuck “in this weird in between place where if you attempt to speak truth to power or push the line you get attacked for being too brazen.”
“The meaning of a proper standup comedy in India is when you won’t be able to stand up properly post comedy,” podcaster Anurag Minus Verma posted on X.
Podcaster Nikhil Taneja said, “Every day the depths we fall to as a banana republic. No punishment to the drunk guys who mow down people in Pune or Ahmedabad or other power-center cities, but comedians and creatives should be thrashed. If you don’t speak up now. You are next.”
Journalist Shiv Aroor posted on X, “Attacking Kunal Kamra & vandalising his show venue, especially by a state’s ruling party, is pathetic, indefensible & brainless. Said comic is no free speech soldier, but fully defend his right to offend netas/govts. Free speech shouldn’t be negotiable (like it is to him).”
Journalist Sakshi Joshi posted on X reacting to the closure of The Habitat. “The Habitat has decided to shut down. The Goon culture won because people decided to just sit quietly and keep endorsing the goons by voting them to power. And last I checked we were still a democracy with a WRITTEN constitution with a protector called Supreme Court,” she said.
Senior journalist and author Rajdeep Sardesai wrote on X, “In Delhi PM Modi says ‘criticism is soul of democracy’; in Mumbai, Shiv Sena (Shinde) smash up a comedy club after a @kunalkamra88 stand up show. Will anyone in govt (state or centre) speak up to defend Kamra’s right to free expression? Didn’t like what the stand up comedian said? Don’t watch! If it’s defamatory , take legal recourse. Who will now pay for ‘thokshahi’? Will Mumbai police arrest and prosecute the thugs who are all caught on camera? Or will thuggery get away again because of a partisan and compromised state?”
An FIR was registered against over 35 Shiv Sainiks. Rahool N. Kanal, secretary of Yuva Sena, and 11 others who ransacked the comedy club were arrested but granted bail by the Bandra Magistrate Court soon after.
The police had registered the case against them under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including Section 132 (assaulting or using criminal force against a public servant) and Section 333 (trespassing after preparation for causing hurt, assault, or wrongful restraint), both of which are non-bailable. However, Kanal’s lawyer had argued that the charges were illegal.
‘Shocked, worried and extremely broken’
On Tuesday morning, The Habitat studio announced its temporary closure. The club said it had decided to shut down “till we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and our property in jeopardy.”
In the message posted on their Instagram handle, The Habitat said, “We are shocked, worried and extremely broken by the recent acts of vandalism targeting us. Artists are solely responsible for their views and creative choices… the recent events have made us rethink about how we get blamed and targeted every time almost like we are a proxy for the performer.”
They further added that, “We urge constructive conversations, not destruction, to address disagreements. We do not support hate or harm of any kind. Violence and destruction undermine the very spirit of art and dialogue.”
Notably, The Habitat is the same venue where the ‘India’s Got Latent’ show, hosted by Samay Raina, was filmed and led to major controversy last month.
