Sarthak, this was nicely written. Your piece works for me as an opinion on/response to our collective reactions to Vir Das’s video more than an opinion or response on his performance itself. As to the latter, if I take away the grand stage and the weight of Vir Das’s popularity, I didnt find his piece/performance to be much more than a cleverly worded WhatsApp forward.
I understand your point that the sincerity in his voice and his courage in using the grand stage made it more than that. In general, Vir Das’s style, to me, comes across as “practiced”. His tone is careful and measured, which is different from the typical stand-up artist, and I have no problems with that. But when I watch him, I am reacting like I would to a “staged performance” which makes it feel remote. Unless, the content is sharp and incisive that it makes me sit up, and that I did not find in this video.
Always thought he is not funny. Haven’t seen a single minute of his. I will check this out and then dunk on him. This write up though…<Fire emoji>.
‘India would still be the same, but it would be one blot of ink shorter on the ocean-sized canvas of global awareness’
This is such a loaded thought and so well put. Thank you sarthak!
Sarthak, this was nicely written. Your piece works for me as an opinion on/response to our collective reactions to Vir Das’s video more than an opinion or response on his performance itself. As to the latter, if I take away the grand stage and the weight of Vir Das’s popularity, I didnt find his piece/performance to be much more than a cleverly worded WhatsApp forward.
I understand your point that the sincerity in his voice and his courage in using the grand stage made it more than that. In general, Vir Das’s style, to me, comes across as “practiced”. His tone is careful and measured, which is different from the typical stand-up artist, and I have no problems with that. But when I watch him, I am reacting like I would to a “staged performance” which makes it feel remote. Unless, the content is sharp and incisive that it makes me sit up, and that I did not find in this video.