Indian Comedians Can’t Copy the West and Expect No Backlash- It’s Time to Read the Room
India’s comedy scene is in a crisis of identity—much like an NRI who grew up watching Bollywood but now insists that “bro, I only vibe with Scorsese.” Our comedians, inspired by the dark, no-holds-barred humor of the West, seem to have forgotten one crucial thing: this is not the West.
The Great Indian Miscalculation
Indian comedians often see themselves as the edgy, rebellious truth-tellers of society. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, many of them have failed to do their homework on their own audience. What works in a New York comedy club does not work in a family WhatsApp group in Kanpur.
Let’s get one thing straight: India is not built for the roast culture of the US. Over there, people pay top dollar to be insulted by Jeff Ross. Here, if a comedian even hints at mocking someone’s community, religion, or politics, they’ll have an FIR filed against them before they finish their set.
The latest controversy surrounding “India’s Got Latent” should have been predictable. A bunch of comedians decided to push the envelope with explicit, below-the-belt humor, and the audience—who, let’s be honest, were never looking for that kind of humor in the first place—pushed back with outrage, police complaints, and online moral policing.
But here’s the funny part: the same people clutching their pearls over “vulgar” content today were probably binge-watching Jimmy Carr’s darkest jokes on Netflix last week.
Hypocrisy Alert: The Moral Police Loves Western Vulgarity
Nothing exposes India’s double standards like the way we treat homegrown humor versus imported humor. When Ricky Gervais goes on stage and roasts Hollywood celebrities about their deepest scandals, we applaud his bravery. But when an Indian comedian tries even a fraction of that, it’s suddenly “against Indian culture.”
We have self-proclaimed gatekeepers of morality who lose their minds over Indian comedians making adult jokes, yet gleefully share clips from Western comedians making even dirtier jokes. It’s as if watching vulgarity is fine—as long as the vulgarity has a British or American accent.
Why? Because we love to enjoy the misery and scandal of strangers, but the moment it comes close to home, we get offended. It’s like laughing at your neighbor’s rishtedar getting caught in a scandal but getting furious when someone gossips about your own family.
This hypocrisy needs to be called out. You cannot watch South Park, enjoy Dave Chappelle, and laugh at Family Guy, only to turn around and say “Indian comedians have no sanskaar” when they try something similar.
Advice for Indian Comedians: One Shoe Does Not Fit All
But let’s also be fair. Indian comedians are not innocent in all this. Many of them have blindly copied Western humor, assuming that because it worked in the US, it must work in India. This is a rookie mistake.
Here’s the truth: you cannot serve steak at a vegetarian wedding and then get surprised when people start throwing paneer at you. Indian comedy needs to evolve on its own terms, not just as a poor imitation of the West.
Instead of forcing vulgarity into their routines for the sake of “boldness,” comedians need to read the room. This doesn’t mean becoming bland and lifeless—but it does mean understanding that every culture has different lines you cannot cross.
Final Thoughts: Adapt, Don’t Copy
Comedy is meant to push boundaries, but in a way that engages the audience, not alienates them. Indian comedians need to stop chasing validation from the West and start crafting humor that resonates with their own people.
At the same time, India’s self-appointed moral police need to stop their selective outrage. If you can enjoy controversial Western content, you should at least have the patience to debate and discuss Indian comedy instead of rushing to ban it.
In the end, one shoe doesn’t fit all. Comedians must tailor their content for their audience, and audiences must stop pretending they are the sole protectors of Indian culture when their Netflix watch history says otherwise.
