Shiv Sena (Shinde) workers vandalize the venue of comedian Kunal Kamra's show after his remarks on Maharashtra Dy CM Eknath Shinde, in Khar area in Mumbai, Sunday night.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: Amid back-to-back controversies, The Habitat studio has decided to shut down besides tendering an apology for the show involving stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra.
The Habitat is a place for music, standup comedy, poetry and alternate events at The UniContinental hotel in Khar suburbs of Mumbai.
The Habitat has put up identical posts in English, Hindi and Marathi to explain its position.
Distancing itself from the comedy involving Kunal Kamra, The Habitat in their statement wrote: “The Habitat is not involved in the making of the recent video of Kunal Kamra and does not endorse the views expressed by it. We extend a sincere and heartfelt apology to all those heard by this video.”
Kunal Kamra comments on Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has put the studio on the spot days after it was in news because of Samay Raina’s reality show India’s Got Latent where crass language is used including that by podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia.
On its Instagram handle, the studio said: “We are shutting down till we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and our property in jeopardy….We invite all artists, audience and stakeholders to discuss and share their views freely and request your guidance so that we also respect the performers' rights."
Rattled by the vandalism, The Habitat said: “We are shocked, worried and extremely broken by the recent acts of vandalism targeting us. Artists are solely responsible for their views and creative choices. We have never been involved in the content performed by any Artist, but the recent events have made us rethink about how we get blamed and targeted every time, almost like we are a proxy for the performer.”
“We urge constructive conversations, not destruction, to address disagreements. We do not support hate or harm of any kind. Violence and destruction undermine the very spirit of art and dialogue," the Habitat said.