SRINAGAR: Stand-up comedian Daniel Fernandes has revealed that he received a legal notice from two lawyers associated with the Supreme Court over his recent comedy set titled The Kashmir Terror Attack, in which he satirised media narratives, public reactions, and social media commentary following the Pahalgam terror incident.
Released in May, the 23-minute video features Fernandes navigating sensitive terrain through pointed satire, highlighting how fake news, calls for war, and a polarised digital discourse have shaped public understanding of the tragedy. However, the set has drawn sharp criticism from the legal fraternity. The notice served to Fernandes flagged specific portions of his act, calling them offensive and trivialising a national tragedy. It demanded that he remove the video from his YouTube channel by June 3 and also delete an earlier X (formerly Twitter) post, dated April 14, 2025, which the complainants claimed mocked “cultural values” and hurt sentiments.
Fernandes went public with the notice on Wednesday, posting screenshots on his social media handles alongside a detailed caption defending his work. “The growing trend of stifling voices — whether it’s the treatment of students in America who speak up for Palestine, or the vandalising of comedy clubs in India, and now notices like these — for simply speaking truth to power, should worry us all,” he wrote, adding that comedy, like other art forms, should remain a space for critique and discomfort.
He reiterated that his material was not intended to insult the victims of the Pahalgam incident but rather to provoke reflection on collective reactions and media behaviour. “Each of the statements cited in your notice falls within the scope of satire and social commentary,” Fernandes stated in his formal response to the lawyers, which he also made public. Declining the request to delete the video, he said, “I firmly believe that art — no matter how provocative — should be allowed to exist.”
The development has sparked a fresh debate on artistic freedom, with many in the comedy and creative communities voicing support for Fernandes’s stand. The comedian, who has often addressed political and social themes in his performances, concluded his statement with a call for solidarity: “Should this matter escalate further, I hope you will stand by my side — loudly.”
