In India, comedy is no longer a funny business

KUALA LUMPUR — In late 2022, the Indian comedian and actor Vir Das delivered a 66-minute monologue about his journey from obscurity to fame at an auditorium in New York. His performance, later telecast by Netflix, won him the 2023 Emmy award for comedy.

During the show, he commented on how American media often ask the question: “Why doesn’t Indian comedy push the envelope?” His answer: Indian comedians have looked inside the envelope and discovered it holds dates for court hearings.