Comedian Kunal Kamra has accused music label T-Series of issuing a copyright strike against his latest stand-up video on YouTube, which was uploaded on March 23.
The 45-minute video has sparked controversy over Kamra’s alleged “derogatory remarks” about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
In a social media post, Kamra defended his work, arguing that it was legally protected under the concept of fair use.
He emphasised that parody and satire should not be stifled, particularly when it is not infringing on any copyrighted music or lyrics.
“Hello @TSeries, stop being a stooge. Parody & Satire comes under fair use legally. I haven’t used the lyrics or the original instrumental of the song,” Kamra posted on X.
He also raised concerns about the broader implications for content creators, warning that such actions could set a dangerous precedent.
“If you take this video down, every cover song/dance video can be taken down. Creators, please take a note of it,” he added.
Kamra further criticized T-Series and monopolies in the industry, stating, “Every monopoly in India is nothing short of Mafia. So please watch/download this special before it’s taken down.”
The copyright strike led to the video’s visibility being restricted. In the controversial stand-up routine, Kamra used songs from films like Dil Toh Pagal Hai, which are owned by T-Series, to satirize Shinde and other politicians from the ruling party.
Following the video’s release, Shiv Sena workers stormed The Habitat studio in Mumbai, where the stand-up was filmed.
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Despite the backlash, Kamra stood firm on his remarks, asserting his right to free speech.
“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,” he said.
In response, Eknath Shinde remarked that Kamra’s actions felt like “taking a ‘supari’ [contract] to speak against someone,” acknowledging the importance of freedom of speech but asserting that there should be limits to satire.Top of Form
