Stand-up comic Vir Das’ multi-city tour Unbelievable ran into police trouble this week during its Delhi leg when cops questioned Das and his team over a complaint received from a member of the audience regarding what he perceived to be objectionable portrayal of former president Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. While the incident follows a similar one from the capital, where another Mumbai-based comic, Abish Mathew’s show was disrupted by members of the audience who protested against perceived slights and sexist remarks, Vir Das took to social media and in an open letter addressed to “those under the influence of influence”.
Posting on his Facebook page, Vir described how the man who complained came up to his greenroom and asked him not to perform the APJ skit. When Vir replied that there was no time to change his material, the man used his influence to call the cops and get them to disrupt the show. “When you come to see a comedy show, that’s someone else’s vision of the world, not a service to yours,” he said. The letter, which has gone viral, evoked support not only from the comic’s fans but also from his peers.
