Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has publicly criticized music label T-Series after his latest comedy special “Naya Bharat” was blocked on YouTube over a copyright claim, despite amassing over 6.7 million views within just three days of its release.
In a strongly worded tweet, Kamra tagged T-Series, accusing the label of misusing copyright to silence satire. “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,” he wrote, referring to the segment of the special that likely triggered the claim.
Kamra further warned that if such takedowns are allowed to continue, it could set a precedent where “every cover song/dance video can be taken down.” Urging fellow creators to take note, he remarked, “Every monopoly in India is nothing short of Mafia, so please watch/download this special before it’s taken down.”
He also mentioned, seemingly in jest, “FYI – T-Series, I stay in Tamil Nadu.”
A screenshot posted by Kamra shows the backend stats of his special titled “Naya Bharat | A Comedy Special”, which was published on March 23, 2025. The video was marked as “Blocked” with restrictions citing copyright, and monetisation marked as ineligible. Despite the block, the performance metrics reflect a top-ranking video with 6.7 million views, a 9.5% click-through rate, and a 13:44 average view duration—indicating strong audience engagement.
T-Series has not yet issued a response at the time of publishing. The incident has reignited debate over the use of copyright claims in India and their implications for freedom of expression, especially in the realm of satire and parody.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
