News Analysis India

Tag: Vir Das

  • Mumbai Police register FIR against comedian Vir Das, Netflix on charges of copyright infringement

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Mumbai Police have registered an FIR against stand-up comedian Vir Das, two other persons and online streaming platform Netflix on charges of copyright rules violation following a complaint by a producer, an official said on Tuesday.

    Noted theatre producer Ashvin Gidwani in his police complaint said that in October 2010, his company signed a contract with Das to produce a show.

    In January 2020, when Gidwani saw a promo of a new show of Das on Netflix, the producer realised that some content had allegedly been copied from the previous show (of 2010) with a few changes, the official from Cuffe Parade police station said.

    Based on Gidwani’s complaint, a case was registered on November 4 against Das, two other persons and Netflix service under relevant provisions of the Copyright Act, the official said.

    No arrest has been made so far, he said, adding that an investigation is on into the case.

    On Monday, right-wing group ‘Hindu Janajagruti Samiti’ approached the police in Bengaluru, seeking cancellation of a show by Das, alleging that it will hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus and show India in bad light to the world.

    Last year also, police complaints were filed against Das over one of his videos, following which the comedian had issued a statement saying his comments were not intended to insult the country.

    MUMBAI: The Mumbai Police have registered an FIR against stand-up comedian Vir Das, two other persons and online streaming platform Netflix on charges of copyright rules violation following a complaint by a producer, an official said on Tuesday.

    Noted theatre producer Ashvin Gidwani in his police complaint said that in October 2010, his company signed a contract with Das to produce a show.

    In January 2020, when Gidwani saw a promo of a new show of Das on Netflix, the producer realised that some content had allegedly been copied from the previous show (of 2010) with a few changes, the official from Cuffe Parade police station said.

    Based on Gidwani’s complaint, a case was registered on November 4 against Das, two other persons and Netflix service under relevant provisions of the Copyright Act, the official said.

    No arrest has been made so far, he said, adding that an investigation is on into the case.

    On Monday, right-wing group ‘Hindu Janajagruti Samiti’ approached the police in Bengaluru, seeking cancellation of a show by Das, alleging that it will hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus and show India in bad light to the world.

    Last year also, police complaints were filed against Das over one of his videos, following which the comedian had issued a statement saying his comments were not intended to insult the country.

  • Vir Das won’t be allowed to perform in Madhya Pradesh: Minister Narottam Mishra

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Thursday said comedian Vir Das, who is facing police complaints over his monologue “I come from two Indias”, would not be allowed to perform in the state.

    Das, who is in the US right now, on Monday uploaded a six-minute video on YouTube titled “I come from two Indias”, which was a part of his recent performance at the John F Kennedy Centre in Washington DC.

    The Mumbai-based stand-up comic, who has also dabbled in cinema, had touched on various topics in the clip, including the farm protests, the battle against COVID-19, the duality in response to women, particularly rape, and the crackdown on comedians.

    “We won’t allow such jesters to perform. If he tenders an apology, we are going to think over it,” Mishra, who is also the MP government’s spokesman, told PTI when asked about the comedian’s monologue.

    Das, who has issued a statement saying his comments weren’t intended to insult the country, has found backing from TMC member Mahua Moitra as well as Congress leaders Kapil Sibal and Shashi Tharoor.

    Mishra said there are some jesters who try to “defame” India, and they have some supporters like Kapil Sibal and other Congress people.

    “Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also defames India on foreign land. MP Congress chief Kamal Nath also does it,” the minister alleged.

    “Such type of people like him, I call them ‘vidushak’ (jester) would not be allowed to perform in the state. If he (Das) apologises, we are going to think over it,” he said.

    Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi had criticised Das for “vilifying the nation” and actor Kangana Ranaut demand strict action against the comedian.

    The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), a film body that claims to have have over 2.5 lakh registered members, earlier said its members won’t work with Das unless he issues a public apology.

    Last month, Narottam Mishra had issued a 24-hour ultimatum to fashion and jewellery designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee to withdraw an advertisement with “objectionable and obscene” portrayal of ‘mangalsutra’ or else face statutory action.

    Prior to it, Dabur India Private Limited had withdrawn its Fem cream bleach advertisement, which showed same-sex couple celebrating Karva Chauth and watching each other through a sieve, after Mishra termed the ad as objectionable and warned that legal steps would be taken against it.

  • Actor-comedian Vir Das joins Judd Apatow’s pandemic comedy film

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Actor-comedian Vir Das has come on board for filmmaker Judd Apatow’s directorial venture “The Bubble”.

    The feature boasts an ensemble cast also featuring “Guardians of the Galaxy” star Karen Gillan, “Knocked Up” actor Iris Apatow, former “SNL” cast member Fred Armisen, best supporting actress Oscar nominee Maria Bakalova, “The X-Files” alum David Duchovny, “Dolemite Is My Name” actor Keegan-Michael Key, “Blockers” actor Leslie Mann, “Narcos” star Pedro Pascal and “Shaun of the Dead” actor Peter Serafinowicz.

    The Netflix film is a comedy about a group of actors and actresses stuck inside a pandemic bubble inside a hotel who are attempting to finish a studio franchise film.

    Das, who is shooting for the film in England, said he is thrilled to be part of this mega comedy project.

    “Everyone on this cast is immensely funny and we’re making something special,” Das, best known for films like “Go Goa Gone” and “Whiskey Cavalier”, said in a statement.

    Apatow, known for helming comedy films like “The 40-Year-Old Virgin”, “Knocked Up”, “The King of Staten Island” and HBO’s Emmy winning 2018 title “The Zen Diaries Of Garry Shandling”, also serves as a producer on “The Bubble”.

  • ‘Inexcusable act of carnage, chaos’: Hollywood and Bollywood react sharply to US Capitol attack

    By PTI
    LOS ANGELES/ MUMBAI: Several cinema and music personalities, including Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Cardi B, Richa Chadha, and Vir Das, have condemned the attack on the Capitol Hill in the US by thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump who clashed with police, calling it an act of “terror” and assault on democracy.

    The violent attack resulted in at least four deaths and interrupting a constitutional process to affirm President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the election.

    The police, outnumbered by the maskless protesters, had a tough time in managing the mob, as hundreds of protesters breached security and entered the Capitol building on Wednesday, where members of the Congress were going through the process of counting and certifying the Electoral College votes.

    Many pointed out the difference in police response to the rioters at the Capitol building and protesters for the Black Lives Matter movement. “Imagine if this was our side. There would be rivers of our blood in the streets and not a single one of us would be armed. This has been allowed. #CoupAttempt,” wrote Ruffalo.

    Imagine if this was our side. There would be rivers of our blood in the streets and not a single one of us would be armed. This has been allowed. #CoupAttempt
    — Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 6, 2021

    “Just think of the carnage had they not been white. So many people enabled this,” said Evans. Oscar-winning director Matthew A Cherry said they would have “dropped a whole bomb on the capitol if this was us”.

    The irony is pretty funny………weren’t people just wild animals in the summer for demanding justice and now?……Let me just watch.
    — iamcardib (@iamcardib) January 6, 2021

    Cardi B found the irony “funny” and the rapper asked, “Weren’t people just wild animals in the summer for demanding justice – and now?”

    Democracy is fragile, everywhere…needs to be saved from “leaders” everywhere.
    — TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) January 6, 2021

    Chadha said it was a “dark day” for America, describing the country an “erstwhile spreader of offshore democracy”. “Democracy is fragile, everywhere…needs to be saved from ‘leaders’ everywhere,” she tweeted.

    All these world leaders condemning the ‘shocking images’ from America. This is an architectural problem.We need to design leader houses with more windows. So they can see their own back yards.
    — Vir Das (@thevirdas) January 7, 2021

    Das said world leaders condemning these ‘shocking images’ from America was an “architectural problem”. “We need to design leader houses with more windows. So they can see their own back yards,” he tweeted.

    What mob anarchy looks like. #MAGATerrorists #CapitolBuilding #USA pic.twitter.com/Ho825sAVH5
    — Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) January 6, 2021

    Sharing pictures of the attack on Twitter, actor Swara Bhasker said this is “what mob anarchy looks like”. Both the House and Senate and the entire Capitol were placed under a lockdown. Vice President Mike Pence and lawmakers were evacuated to safe locations.

    Four people died on Wednesday, including one woman who was shot by a police officer, amid protests and rioting on Capitol Hill that resulted in dozens of demonstrators being arrested, police said.

    If this were a movie, I’d also say there is NO WAY a significant amount of people are gonna fall for this tan sprayed, combed over, blustering charlatan. But I have underestimated the power of a large media site (FOX “NEWS”) pumping propaganda 24/7. But–
    — Mangold (@mang0ld) March 21, 2020

    “Ford vs Ferrari” director James Mangold called for a full boycott of the Fox News appealing for all “fellow content makers” to cancel any appearances on the network and use their power to keep ads for their projects off the channel as well.

    “Frozen” star Josh Gad questioned the police’s credibility over the violent assault on the landmark building. “This is either a dereliction of duty by the Capitol Police or a complicit desire to not plan for the known threat of chaos today. Either way, this is inexcusable. If you can be prepared for imaginary ANTIFA protesters, you had no business not prepping for these actual terrorists,” Gad said.

    “The Office” star Rainn Wilson said the Capitol is “under attack by terrorists”.

    Legendary musician Stevie Wonder was among several Hollywood names who demanded Trump’s impeachment and said he was “heartbroken and astounded” with the turn of events. Calling the outgoing POTUS a “narcissistic and dangerous president”, Wonder said Trump is no longer able to serve as president because “he can’t accept defeat”.

    Scores of celebrities such as Dylan O’Brien, Chris Hayes, Dylan Minnette, and Halsey also called for his impeachment.

    Trump, who earlier encouraged his supporters to head to the Capitol, urged them to abide by the law and go back home after the violent clash. “This was a fraudulent election, but we can’t play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So go home,” Trump said in a video message posted on Twitter.

    Director James Gunn said that Trump “had to wait until AFTER his followers had pushed past police and entered the Capitol building and there was a face off with guns, but, you know, okay”.

    Actor-comic Sacha Baron Cohen, a staunch critic of Facebook, urged Mark Zuckerberg and the heads of Twitter, YouTube and Google to ban Trump. “Is that finally enough for you to act?! It’s time to ban Donald Trump from your platforms once and for all!” he tweeted.

    Singer Selena Gomez also slammed social media platforms for “failing” the American people. “I hope you’re going to fix things going forward,” she added. “The President just said ‘we love you’ to the armed mob storming The Capitol, replacing the American flag with a makeshift Trump flag,” ‘Top Chef’ host Padma Lakshmi tweeted.

    The microblogging site later removed the video and some tweets in which Trump appeared to defend the actions of his supporters. In an unprecedented move, Twitter and Facebook have suspended Trump’s accounts after he continued to push conspiracy theories about the November 3 election.

    Twitter suspended Trump’s account for 12 hours and also blocked three of his tweets including a video of his address to his supporters. Facebook said it would be blocking the president’s account from posting for 24 hours due to two policy violations.

    The protesters dispersed following the enforcement of curfew in the national capital. Mayor Bowser announced the curfew to prevent the situation from escalating. Officials said the Capitol was secured, putting an end to nearly four-hour violent occupation by Trump supporters.

    Heavily armed police personnel were deployed to disperse the crowd.