It’s comedy! It’s serious!

Should we laugh, or should we wonder why no one is laughing? The first question challenges the idea of finding humour in something that is merely labelled as comedy. The second reflects the surprise when something intended to be funny fails to draw even a smile.

These questions have become increasingly relevant amid the ongoing controversies surrounding stand-up comedians and social media influencers who claim comedy as their craft. For many Indians, especially younger audiences, the debate is no longer just about jokes, but it is about the balance between style and substance.

There is a well-known saying: “Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious.” But in today's Indian context, one must ask: is comedy still using humour to make meaningful observations, or has it become little more than a pursuit of attention, virality, and popularity?