Days after stand-up comedian and actor Vir Das made headlines for his monologue on ‘Two Indias’, delivered at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., he has finally broken his silence and said that he won’t stop doing his job. He was trolled heavily for insulting the country in a foreign land and was even termed as an ‘anti-national’. 

In the nearly seven-minute-long video, Vir Das is heard talking about the duality of the country. He mentions topical issues India is grappling with including the battle against COVID-19. Vir talks about how Bollywood divides the nation on Twitter and ironically unites the audience in the theatres. He mentions how women are worshipped in the day and gang-raped at night. Vir is heard talking about the crackdown against comedians, lack of information about the PM CARES fund and does not forget to mention the farmers' protests. He also mentions that some might find it a gigantic joke but it’s not. 

Here’s the video: 

In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Vir said, “I think laughter is a celebration. When laughter and applause fill up a room, that’s a moment of pride. Any Indian who has a sense of humour, understands satire, or watches my entire video, knows that’s what happened in that room.” 

He went on to add, “I can’t expect what happens when I put out a piece of content — it’s jokes, it’s not in my hands,” Das stated. “I think a comedian puts out satire, it has the good of the country and the bad of the country, ending in the good of country…that’s something you should want to come together in.”

He also said that he has made his county laugh at his jokes for so many years and he won’t stop doing his job. “I have made my country laugh for 10 years now. I have devoted my life to writing about my country. We are here at the Emmys because I wrote a love letter to my country. As long as I am able to do my comedy, I want to keep writing love letters to my country,” Das said.

After his interview gained traction, people started to troll him brutally once again. One of the social media users went on to say that he should go to jail for giving this interview. Another said he should leave the country if he is not comfortable living here. Vir’s supporters gave it back to haters saying that he doesn’t owe anyone an explanation and he said nothing but the truth. 

Here are the reactions:

© Vir Das Instagram

© Vir Das Instagram

© Vir Das Instagram

© Vir Das Instagram

What do you have to say about this fiasco? Let us know in the comments section below.

View the full article