International Emmy winner Vir Das talked about why looks, fame and even awards don’t matter when a comedian takes the stage.
🎥 : Indian Express, Indian Express Entertainment.
🎥 : Indian Express, Indian Express Entertainment.
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00:00Do you know what would happen if I walked on to a stand-up stage with an Emmy in my hand?
00:03It would make my job difficult.
00:05I love this generation.
00:06Earlier it was, here are my jokes, you're offended, oh so sorry, I'm off to the next city.
00:10And now we have to be humbled by the fact that the audience has a voice.
00:30You know, you're thought-provoking, your show is thought-provoking, they say tough things,
00:38people are getting more and more thin-skinned, I feel around, especially the news person,
00:42it's very difficult not to be pointed a finger at for taking a side.
00:47I find that very hard in comedy and you kind of have managed to do it.
00:50You manage to kind of say tough things, you make fun of people,
00:54and you've been commercially successful at that.
00:56You've got a show on Netflix, you've been Emmy nominated.
00:58Why hasn't that happened to other comics?
01:00Specifically, if I can name one guy, Kunal Kamra, who has incredible humour, incredible writing,
01:07why haven't the others been able to do this?
01:11I think the word you're looking for is yet.
01:13There should be a yet at the end of that sentence.
01:16Why hasn't it happened for them yet?
01:18And I'm sure it will.
01:20I come from a profession where it's the most democratic profession.
01:24Yes.
01:25It really is.
01:26Your youth doesn't matter.
01:27Your looks don't matter.
01:29Your dad doesn't matter and your mom doesn't matter when you're on stage.
01:33Your fame doesn't matter.
01:34If, God willing, one is kind enough to receive an Emmy,
01:39do you know what would happen if I walked onto a stand-up stage with an Emmy in my hand?
01:42It would make my job difficult.
01:44People would be like, we don't give a sh** about this.
01:47It's a very anti-establishment, it's a very anti-establishment profession.
01:51You are supposed to put us above you.
01:53Also, there's enough laughter to go around.
01:55There's enough audience to go around.
01:57You can watch comedy five times a day.
01:59How many true crimes will you watch in a day?
02:01Five murders.
02:02You won't watch it, right? Sorry, Shefali.
02:04You won't watch five murders in a day, right?
02:06But you can watch five comedy clips.
02:08So, nobody's success in comedy is at the expense of anybody's success.
02:12We have 1.6 billion people who are dying to laugh.
02:17It is the best time to be a comic.
02:19So, it will happen for them.
02:23Every comic kind of talks about identity and how it's so complicated now.
02:28I feel like people are identifying themselves to be different now.
02:30Maybe earlier they would identify themselves to be part of something larger.
02:33Part of a larger community.
02:35But now it's all about how do you stand out?
02:37How are you different?
02:39Does that affect your art?
02:41No.
02:43If you want to play devil's advocate,
02:45something that comedians have had to contend with now
02:47that we're having a hard time adjusting to
02:49is earlier it was, here are my jokes.
02:52You're offended? Oh, so sorry. I'm off to the next city.
02:54And now we have to be humbled by the fact that the audience has a voice.
02:58It's just as loud as ours.
03:00And we have to contend with their feedback in the most humble manner.
03:04I was telling Shefali this also.
03:06I love this generation.
03:08I love it. They destroyed stardom.
03:10Think about that.
03:12They destroyed celebrity in a second.
03:14And they value art history.
03:16Earlier what was the illusion?
03:18That only Ranbir or someone beautiful
03:20got to stand in front of the mountain
03:22and have beautiful music and beautiful lighting.
03:24These guys do that five times a day on Instagram.
03:28They look behind the curtain.
03:30So it's no longer undeniable or inaccessible to them.
03:32So now what else are you?
03:34What other identity do you have?
03:36What are your values?
03:38How is your behavior?
03:40Who are you?
03:42Then I'll follow you.
03:44These people are not fans.
03:46They're audience members.
03:48And for them to follow you
03:50and not be fans
03:56Do you feel people who have a lot of followers
03:58are they forced to be more authentic?
04:00Or are they able to get away
04:02by faking it?
04:04I don't think you can fake it anymore.
04:06I think this generation smells bullshit a mile away.