Why comedy had to change

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Indian comedy was a gentler, more inclusive affair. It used to be more nuanced and safer.

In Milan Kundera’s novel ‘The Joke’, the protagonist, Ludvik, sends a postcard with a satirical message that is misinterpreted by the Communist authorities, leading to severe consequences. This narrative illustrates the regime’s intolerance to irony and humour.