Kunal Kamra says ‘every monopoly in India is nothing short of Mafia’. Why is he taking on T-Series — EXPLAINED

Kunal Kamra calls out T-Series for issuing copyright strike against his video, stating it adheres to fair use. He emphasizes the potential threat to creators if such actions continue and criticizes the monopolistic practices in India's entertainment industry.

Kunal Kamra wrote on X, “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. If you take this video down every cover song/dance video can be taken down. Creators, please take note of it."

Kunal Kamra on monopoly

“Having said that every monopoly in India is nothing short of Mafia so please watch/download this special before it’s taken down. FYI - T- Series I stay in Tamil Nadu,” he added.

What is the controversy about?

On March 23, Kunal Kamra uploaded a 45-minute long video which was blocked over a copyright strike. He used popular songs such as ‘Dil Toh Pagal Hai’ and other Bollywood film songs while referring to Shinde and other ruling party politicians. Kamra allegedly called Eknath Shinde a "traitor" (Gaddar) during his performance of ‘Naya Bharat’ at Habitat studio in Mumbai.

Following his remarks, Shiv Sena party members vandalised the Habitat Studio. The Mumbai Police have arrested 12 people till March 24, including Shiv Sena leader Rahul Kanal, in connection with the vandalism.

The comedian criticised the vandalism of the premises, calling it "senseless", and compared it to someone overturning a lorry full of tomatoes simply because they disliked butter chicken.

“Our right to freedom of speech and expression is not only to be used to fawn over the powerful and rich even though today's media would have us believe otherwise. 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," Kamra wrote on X.