In the wake of the vandalism at Mumbai’s Habitat Studio, comedian Kunal Kamra has received an unusual invitation to perform under Bengaluru’s Ejipura flyover. The suggestion came from X user Aashay Sachdeva, who wrote, “Can you host the next show under Ejipura flyover?”
The comment seemingly laced with sarcasm, highlights the frustration of daily commuters over the long-pending flyover’s incomplete state. However it also echoes a larger debate on freedom of expression in India comedy scene which has come under fire following Kamra’s controversial remarks about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Kamra’s joke, where he referred to Shinde as a “gaddar” (traitor), sparked outrage, leading Shiv Sena workers to storm Habitat Studio in Mumbai popular stand-up venue. The protestors damaged cameras, lights, and other equipment, forcing the venue to temporarily shut down.
In response, Habitat issued a statement on Instagram expressing frustration over being targeted for an artist’s content:
“We are shutting down until we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and our property in jeopardy.”
Despite previously distancing itself from Kamra’s content, the venue has now invited artists, audiences, and stakeholders for discussions on free speech and safety concerns.
Responding to the attack, Kamra criticized the vandalism, arguing that a performance venue should not be held responsible for a comedian’s jokes.
“An entertainment venue is merely a platform. Habitat (or any other venue) is not responsible for my comedy, nor does it have any power or control over what I say or do. Attacking a venue for a comedian’s words is as senseless as overturning a lorry carrying tomatoes because you didn’t like the butter chicken you were served,” he wrote on X.
Kamra also hit out at political leaders threatening to ‘teach him a lesson’, asserting that freedom of speech is not just for praising the rich and powerful.
“Your inability to take a joke at the expense of a powerful public figure does not change the nature of my right. As far as I know, it is not against the law to poke fun at our leaders and the circus that is our political system.”
The controversy has reignited debates on artistic freedom, political criticism, and the shrinking space for dissent in India, with Kamra now being encouraged to take his act to the streets—literally.
