Vir Das issues clarification after complaint filed against him for 'I Come From Two Indias' monologue

Comedian Vir Das has issued a clarification after facing backlash over a monologue he delivered as part of his performance in the US, with many on social media calling him out for "insulting India".

On November 15, Vir Das dropped his latest video 'I Come From Two Indias' on his YouTube channel. In the nearly seven-minute-long video, Vir talked about the duality of the country.

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He mentioned topical issues India is grappling with including the battle against Covid-19. Vir also talked about crackdown against comedians, lack of information about the PMCARES fund and also the farmers' protests.

Soon after Vir dropped the video, he faced massive backlash on Twitter for his comments against the country. While some called him anti-national, others called the act 'pathetic' and 'insulting'.

Later, a complaint was lodged against the comedian for 'derogatory statements against India' over his monologue. The complaint was lodged with the Mumbai Police by high court lawyer Ashutosh Dubey.

Vir Das soon issued a statement clarifying his position. He wrote, "The video is a satire about the duality of two very separate India’s that do different things. Like any nation has light and dark, good and evil within it. None of this is a secret. The video appeals for us to never forget that we are great. To never stop focusing on what makes us great."

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Vir Das asked his followers to be "fooled by edited snippets". "People cheer for India with hope, not hate. People clap for India with respect, not malice. You cannot sell tickets, earn applause, or represent a great people with negativity, only with pride. I take pride in my country, and I carry that pride across the world," he said.

"To me, a room full of people anywhere in the world, giving India an ovation is pure love. I ask of you, the same thing I asked of that audience...to focus on the light, remember our greatness, and spread the love," he added.