Kunal Kamra's Bengaluru comedy show moved to Koramangala's Underground Comedy Club after right-wing group protests
Comedian Kunal Kamra's planned Bengaluru performances have been shifted from URU in Whitefield to The Underground Comedy Club in Koramangala after a right-wing outfit objected to the event and pressured police to deny permission. Kamra confirmed the new venue and dates — August 3 to August 6 — and said ticket holders for the original Whitefield shows would receive refunds. A Whitefield police officer separately confirmed the cancellation at that venue.
The objections were led by Mohan Gowda, spokesperson of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti Karnataka and Hindu Rashtra Samanvaya Samiti, who posted on X questioning why Kamra was being allowed to perform in Bengaluru, alleging the comedian had made derogatory remarks about Hindu gods and that multiple cases had been registered against him. Gowda tagged Bengaluru police in the post. On Sunday, Gowda visited Koramangala Police Station and submitted a memorandum demanding cancellation of the rescheduled show, citing alleged insults to Lord Ram and the Hindu faith.
Kamra responded by inviting members of the organisation to meet him at Whitefield Police Station to debate comedy and culture while he was seeking performance permission. He later posted a photograph with columnist Aakar Patel outside the station, implying no one from the group had appeared. He also made an oblique reference to his ongoing difficulties performing in Mumbai, alluding to the political and legal pressures he has faced there.
The Bengaluru episode is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding Kamra's shows. He previously faced multiple FIRs after Shiv Sena workers vandalised a Mumbai comedy club following a parody performance widely interpreted as targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Kamra declined to apologise before a Maharashtra legislature privileges committee, stating that any apology would be insincere and would set a damaging precedent for artistic freedom. Right-wing groups have sought cancellations of his shows in several cities over similar objections.