Two Indias: Watch Vir Das’ poignant take on duality of Indian-ness

Vir Das, the
Indian comedian who often makes the news for his poignant humour on the state
of the country and tackles complex topics surrounding gender, culture and
communalism, has once again gone viral on social media. But this time, it’s not
for a joke but for a poem. The comedian’s poem “Two Indias” performed at the
reputed Kennedy Centre in Washington DC has rung true among many of his young
fans.

Watch Vir Das’ rendition
of “Two Indias” here:

In the poem, Vir
Das takes on a host of potentially provocative issues, and through his peculiar
brand of humour, humanizes the problems and removes much of the venom that is
often part of discourse, especially on the internet.

Das talks about
almost everything troubling India and Indians at this moment, from rising fuel
prices to pollution to the three contentious agriculture laws that has enraged
farmers across India’s northwestern states.

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Even the rivalry
between India and Pakistan, both on and off the cricket field, find mention in
the poem.

Das’ poem delves
into the quirks of Indian-ness and how the same Indians who are susceptible to
hate are equally capable of love.

The 7-minute-long
rendition begins with dramatic music and he situates the poem along with his
audience in the here and now. “I come from two Indias, those are the Indias I
bring to the stage right now,” says Vir Das amid applause.

“I come from an
India where the AQI (air quality index) is 9000 but we still sleep on the roof
and look up at the sky,” he goes on. His poem, delighting in and laughing at
the contradictions of Indian-ness becomes reminiscent of the early 2000 film’s
title song “Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani”.

However, not all
were impressed with the rendition. There were those on Twitter who said the
poem only goes on to perpetuate stereotypes about India.

Vir Das, 42, was
nominated in the International Emmys this year for “Vir Das: For India” a
comedy special on Netflix. The special premiered in January 2020.