Kunal Kamra Moves Shows to Koramangala After Hindutva Groups Object
Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has cancelled his scheduled performances at a Whitefield venue in Bengaluru from Monday to Thursday and shifted them to another venue in Koramangala, following objections raised by Hindutva organisations to his shows.
In a post on social media platform X on Sunday, Kamra announced, “Shows for Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday shifted to Underground Comedy Club in Koramangala.” He said that the amount paid for tickets to the Whitefield shows would be refunded, and asked those interested to book tickets at the new venue afresh.
The decision to move the shows came after the Hindu Rashtra Samanvaya Samiti, a Hindutva organisation, petitioned the Whitefield police, demanding that Kamra be barred from performing. The group contended that Kamra had disrespected Hindu deities in his comedic acts.
A senior police official from the Whitefield Division told The Hindu that Kamra and the event organisers visited the Whitefield Police Station on Sunday and informed them of the decision to cancel the shows. “The decision was taken as the event had become controversial. No law and order incident was reported in connection with the scheduled performance,” the official said. Police sources added that no complaint was filed against Kamra in this regard.
On Saturday, in response to the objections, Kamra had issued an open invitation on X, saying he would be at the Whitefield Police Station on Sunday to seek permission to perform and that any objectors were free to join him to debate on “comedy and culture”. He later said that only senior journalist Aakar Patel turned up at the police station for the interaction. No representative of the objecting organisations was present, according to his posts.
The Whitefield shows were to be held in the eastern suburb of Bengaluru, a major IT hub. The new venue, Underground Comedy Club, is located in Koramangala, a well-known locality in the southern part of the city and a popular destination for live performances.
In India, stand-up comedy shows do not require prior police permission. Organisers typically inform local police to ensure smooth conduct. In this case, the Whitefield police were informed of the cancellation by the organisers, the official said.
Meanwhile, Mohan Gowda, spokesperson for Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, said that Kamra had shifted the shows after facing strong opposition. He appealed to the Koramangala police not to allow Kamra to perform in their jurisdiction.
Sources in the government, however, said that the shows would not be stopped, indicating that the relocation was a voluntary decision by the comedian and the organisers, and not the result of any administrative action.
Kamra, known for his political satire, has frequently courted controversy with his remarks on public figures and religious themes. His performances have previously faced opposition from various groups, and he has also been involved in legal disputes over his online posts.
The incident adds to a series of similar episodes in India, where artists and writers have faced protests from religious groups over content they consider offensive. Such disputes have often led to cancellations or changes of venues for cultural events.
The shows at the Underground Comedy Club are expected to proceed as scheduled, with refunds for the original Whitefield tickets being processed automatically, Kamra said.
