JUST FOR LAUGHS?

Chennai's stand-up comedians debate the fine line between dark humour and offensiveness following the India's Got Latent controversy

- AASHNA REDDY

A well-known stand-up comedian gets up on stage and he is welcomed with hoots and cheers. As he goes on with his set, he makes a joke, rather poses a riddle, taking a dig at persons with disabilities.

"What's one thing a paralysed person cannot do? Stand-up comedy" Did you laugh? Did you flinch? Did you immediately check if it was okay to laugh? That's the thing about dark comedy it's not just about pushing boundaries; it's about making you laugh at the uncomfortable truths you'd rather ignore. But where do you draw the line? Racism? Cancer? Or is it simply whatever makes people uncomfortable enough to question whether they should be laughing at all? And in 2025, where stand-up sets are dissected faster than a viral tweet, the debate is louder than ever: Is dark humour a fearless art form, or just a cheap shot disguised as wit? What do the comedians say? If anyone understands the fine line between humour and offence, it's the people who walk it for a living. Chennai's comedians have their own rules, their own limits, and, of course, their own battles with audiences who love a good laugh until they don't.

"A joke isn't just a joke."Nesan David For Nesan, comedy is about balance. "It's completely okay to joke about any topic - as long as we know where to draw the line. If a majority of my audience or the people watching online would be genuinely uncomfortable, I'd rather not do that set," says the standup comedian and content creator.

He believes comedians need to factor in audience perception, intent, and cultural sensitivity. "I have sets about dogs mating and a phone call with a stranger who mistakes me for a sex worker.