“Hello T-Series, stop being a stooge”: Kunal Kamra after YouTube flags controversial video

Comedian Kunal Kamra, who is facing backlash for his joke mocking Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, took to social media on Wednesday to claim that T-series has issued a copyright infringement notice against the video. Sharing a screenshot on his X account, Kamra claimed that the video featuring his parody act has been flagged by YouTube for a copyright violation.

“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 a note of it. 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,” the comedian wrote in an X post.

Meanwhile Kamra has refused to apologise for his act by issuing a statement where he mentioned, “It is not against the law to poke fun at our leaders and the circus that is our political system.”

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 a note of it.

Having said… pic.twitter.com/Q8HXl1UhMy

— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) March 26, 2025

Kunal Kamra’s stand-up gig mocking Eknath Shinde

The comedian stirred a controversy earlier this week after making derogatory remarks targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, which sparked political tensions and widespread protests.

Kamra, known for his satirical style of comedy, was performing at a stand-up show at the Unicontinental Hotel in Mumbai’s Khar area, where he mocked Shinde’s defection from the Shiv Sena and his alliance with the BJP by allegedly calling him a “traitor” in an indirect manner.
The jokes, which included a parody of a song from the Bollywood movie “Dil To Pagal Hai”, were aimed at Shinde, even though Kamra did not mention him by name. His performance quickly gained attention on social media, following which it triggered a series of protests and even violence.

Kunal Kamra refuses to apologise

Refusing to apologise for his act, the comedian issued a statement on social media where he wrote, “I will not apologise. What I said is exactly what Mr. Ajit Pawar (1st Deputy CM) said about Mr. Eknath Shinde (2nd Deputy CM). I don’t fear this mob and I will not be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down.”

Taking a jibe at Indian media for reporting about the controversy, he further wrote, “To the media faithfully reporting this circus: Remember that press freedom in India ranks at 159.”

Highlighting the importance of freedom of speech in India, Kunal Kamra further mentioned in his statement, “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.”