Kunal Kamra Slams T-Series for Copyright Notice on Naya Bharat, Calls Out Corporate Monopolies
Kunal Kamra has found himself in yet another controversy, this time with Bollywood studio T-Series, after receiving a copyright infringement notice for his latest stand-up special, Naya Bharat. The video, which has drawn attention for its sharp political satire, was flagged by T-Series for allegedly using copyrighted material without authorization. The stand-up special includes jokes about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, sparking further discussion online.
T-Series claims that Kamra used the song Bholi Si Surat Aankhon Masti from the popular Bollywood film Dil To Pagal Hai without proper authorization. As a result, YouTube blocked the video due to copyright restrictions, making it inaccessible to viewers. Additionally, the video has been demonetized, meaning Kamra will not earn revenue from it. Reacting to this move, Kamra took to social media platform X to express his frustration. In a post directed at T-Series, he wrote, “Hello @TSeries, stop being a stooge.” He further argued that parody and satire fall under fair use, emphasizing that he had not used the original lyrics or instrumental from the song. Kamra warned that if his video were taken down, it would set a precedent for removing countless cover songs and dance videos on YouTube, affecting many content creators.
In a follow-up statement, Kamra took a strong stance against corporate monopolies, suggesting that such entities in India operate like a “mafia.” He encouraged his followers to watch or download his special before it was removed from YouTube. He also pointed out that he currently resides in Tamil Nadu, implying that he would not be easily intimidated by legal threats.
T-Series responded to the controversy, maintaining that Kamra’s video was rightfully flagged for violating composition rights. A spokesperson for the company stated, “Mr Kunal Kamra has not taken any authorization or approval for the usage of the underlying musical work in the song, hence the content has been blocked for infringement of composition rights.”
Beyond his dispute with T-Series, Kamra also took a swipe at Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal during his special. Addressing concerns about Ola scooters catching fire, he criticized Indian businessmen for refusing to admit their mistakes. Kamra recalled his previous clash with Aggarwal, where he had mocked Ola’s two-wheelers for their technical issues. In a sarcastic remark, he said, “Indian businessmen don’t even admit when they’re wrong. Take the Ola guy, for example. What did I say that made him so angry? It’s simple—you manufacture two-wheelers, and neither of the wheels works. And yet, he tells me, ‘Come work with us, let’s build India together.’”
Continuing his critique, Kamra mocked Aggarwal’s focus on launching new scooter colors instead of addressing safety and performance issues. “Maybe a different shade will fix the problem,” he quipped, suggesting that customer refunds should take priority over marketing gimmicks.
The controversy surrounding Naya Bharat has sparked debates about artistic freedom, corporate influence, and the legal boundaries of satire in India. While Kamra remains defiant, the legal implications of this dispute could set a precedent for how intellectual property laws are enforced on digital platforms in the country.
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