Laughing Matters: Comedy and Free Speech in India
‘This is EIC Outrage, where we talk about issues … and hope to not get assassinated’. That’s how comedian Sapan Verma chose to introduce one episode of his popular Outrage East India Comedy YouTube series.
India’s comedy scene is currently enjoying a moment; it’s a space of seemingly unpoliced free expression within a conservative culture and an environment of tightening media censorship. Stand-up comedy is where many of the sharpest Indian voices are commenting on social issues as they find humour in subjects as diverse as Bollywood, terrorism, Tinder, feminism, international cricket, youth suicide and Game of Thrones.
As part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, some of the brightest stars of Indian comedy, including Daniel Fernandes, Neeti Palta and Sapan Verma, are coming to Australia. In this panel discussion, the three will talk stand-up, censorship and how comedy might change the world. Hosted by Bhakthi Puvanenthiran.
Featuring
Sapan Verma is one of India’s most popular and experienced stand up comedians. He’s a co-founder of The East India Comedy, India’s leading comedy collective which has more than half a million followers and 80 million views on YouTube. Sapan is also the first Indian com... Read more
Daniel Fernandes is one of India’s leading English stand-up comedians. He’s a regular at comedy venues across the country, and has performed internationally at comedy festivals in the Netherlands (Utrecht International Comedy Festival), Singapore (Singapore Fringe), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur Intern... Read more
Neeti brings to India’s English language stand-up comedy scene what it sorely lacks – a female perspective. She presents her unique point of view on a variety of subjects: from the life of a woman in India and Indian idiosyncrasies to daily irritants and current affairs, all while indulging ... Read more
Bhakthi Puvanenthiran is the Entertainment Editor at the ABC. Previously the Editor of ABC Everyday and Managing Editor of Crikey, a journalist and editor at The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, she has also co-hosted podcasts, worked at various literary festivals and is a regular media commentator. B... Read more
Watch, Listen, Read
Watch
Ma Thida: Myanmar’s Struggle for Democracy
Listen
Global Game Changers: The Evolution of the Olympic Games
Watch
Surveillance, Technology and AI: Meredith Whittaker in Conversation
Watch
No Place Like Home: Australia’s Housing Affordability Crisis
Listen
Surveillance Technology and AI: Meredith Whittaker in Conversation
Read