Struggles of Indian Stand-up Comedians to Find the Line: Political, Legal, Religious, and Ethical Conundrums

This chapter explores in detail the issues and challenges encountered by Indian stand-up comics (ISCs) who have to traverse the complexities of Indian society. In addition to aesthetic and ethical considerations, the obstacles include political pressure, religious hurdles, and legal complications. These obstacles occasionally act as limits on the content creation of ISCs and may also result in unintended repercussions for them, such as personal assaults, threats, or even imprisonment. The chapter dives into many impediments, barriers, and issues that attempt to draw a line for ISCs, engages with the impact of India’s religious landscape on comics and examines the political and legal aspect of the Indian comedic scene while exploring its aesthetics and ethics.