I support freedom of expression but not the content that went on the show: Papa CJ

Interview with stand-up comedian

A debate has lingered over many years on India's obsession with "fairness". It gained momentum recently when actor Tannishtha Chatterjee took offence at her skin tone being made fun of as part of a roast on the show, Comedy Nights Bachao, where she was present to promote her film, Parched. Stand-up comedian PAPA CJ speaks to Shakya Mitra about how much is too much in comedy and why he feels Indians are hypocritical when it comes to dealing with issues related to race and colour. Edited excerpts:

Tannishtha Chatterjee raised serious objections to being 'roasted' for her skin tone. While it is a valid objection, the other reality is that a roast is a no-holds-barred event. Having agreed to participate in it, should she have taken it in her stride?

I have multiple perspectives on this matter. I am not a fan of roasts as the comedy I do is meant to tease people, pull their leg but not to be hurtful. Most roasts are hurtful and I tend not to participate in them. But it is an accepted format and if you turn up at a show and know it is a roast, then you should do your research. Everybody knows that Comedy Nights Bachao has jokes that are racist and sexist.

So, if a protest had to be lodged, it should have been done long ago. At the same time, I feel there is a sense of hypocrisy here as well -in the AIB roast, Ashish Shakya was made fun of, again on the basis of his skin tone. There is almost a sense that it is okay if the jokes are in English, but crass if they are in Hindi.

How far can one push things in the name of comedy or roast? At what stage should people's sensitivities be taken into account?

It depends on not just what we (comedians) say but also on where we say it. I do live shows all over the world. The audience understands the intent of what I am saying, but people who are not physically present might not get the context. In the AIB roast, the moment it went on the internet, all hell broke loose.

Prior to going to Comedy Nights Bachao, Chatterjee should have known what she was getting into. That said, as a comedian, while I support freedom of expression, I don't endorse rubbish comedy and the content that sometimes goes in the name of comedy.

Aren't the companies that sell "fairness products" and the celebrities who endorse them guilty of sending the wrong message across - that who or what you are depends on your skin tone?

I did jokes addressing this eight years ago. It is completely hypocritical for celebrities who endorse "fairness" products to say it is wrong when a controversy over skin tone breaks out. India is a racist country.

Do you think the battle has become even tougher with fairness products now targeting even men?

The message has clearly been sent out that one needs to be "fair" to be a better human being. At the same time, it is evident that there is a supply because there is obviously a demand for these products. I may add that it is better to be lovely than to be fair.

There has been a lot of outrage, especially on social media, over this episode. Do you think this is a short-term reaction because we are, after all, a country where the concept of "fair" and "lovely" is repeatedly reinforced, even in matrimonial advertisements?

I have often said this in some of my shows that India is not just the world's largest democracy but also the world's largest hypocrisy. What we do behind closed doors is very different from what we are outside.

India cries foul about racist behaviour against its citizens abroad, but aren't Indians as guilty of such racism targeted towards their own people, as this episode shows?

It depends on one's background, from where one comes. I didn't know what racism was till I went to the United Kingdom. What is racist in a British-Asian context is different from an Indian context. Cultural differences are at play.