In a first for an Indian comedian, Vir Das won the International Emmy award for his Netflix special Landing. Das shares his Emmy with Derry Girls – Season 3’ in the category of Best Unique Comedy.
The Emmy awards were held on 20 November in New York City. Vir Das was previously nominated once for his Netflix Special “For India”. However, this was his first win. Speaking of his win, he said, “I have immense gratitude, holding the International Emmy for Best Comedy for Vir Das: Landing.
This one is for my team and for Netflix without whom this wouldn’t have been possible. This journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, and to win this accolade for my fifth special with Netflix feels like a culmination of passion, perseverance, and the undying support of people around the globe who have given so much love to Vir Das: Landing.”
Landing is is Das’ fourth stand up special filmed in New York where he delves into his life, growing up in India, moving to US and unpacks his identity as an Indian artist and citizen. He spends a considerable time discussing what happened with him during the Two Indias Monologue controversy and how he processed being attacked and misunderstood. Vir Das: Landing is produced by Weirdass Comedy / Rotten Science / Netflix.
Vir Das believes that comedy is the most democratic profession because its where one’s looks, background, family name do not matter and one’s success rests entirely on their ability to make their audience laugh. He also believes that a comedian does not compete with his peers and that there is space for as many to pursue the field.
Vir Das and his contribution to Indian Entertainment
Das is a pioneer of stand-up comedy in India. Stand-up as an art form in the commercial space began with ‘Hamateur nights’ in Bombay established under Das. Through his Hamateur nights he offered a platform for promising stand-up comedians like Tanmay Bhat and Rohan Joshi.
Indian stand-up sector gained a gigantic audience while it was still in its developing stage and many stand-up comics were suddenly met with a huge viewership and fame over a short span. Stand-up comedy that now has a substantial viewership in India which multiplied within a short time span has offered new comics significant fame through OTT platforms and YouTube and a large fan following on social media.
In the comedy world, Vir Das is known for his sharp and observational humor. He has performed in India and internationally, earning acclaim for his stand-up specials. Some of his popular stand-up specials include Vir Das: Abroad Understanding on Netflix.
Das has gained recognition for his work in the entertainment industry. He has been involved in various aspects of the performing arts, including stand-up comedy, acting in films and television, and writing.
In addition to his work in comedy, Das has acted in numerous Bollywood films and has ventured into international projects. He appeared in movies such as Delhi Belly, Badmaash Company, and Go Goa Gone. Moreover, he has been involved in theater productions.
Vir Das has expanded his reach beyond India and participated in international projects. This includes his work in the American television series “Whiskey Cavalier.”
Emmys 2023
The Emmy Awards honor outstanding achievements in various categories of television programming, including drama, comedy, reality shows, documentaries, and more. While Shefali Shah and Jim Sarbh were also nominated from India, they lost to Karla Souza and Martin Freeman respectively. Das, Sarbh and Shah wore Indo- western outfits to the Pre-Emmys cocktail party. Das and Ekta Kapoor were the Indian winners amongst the 56 candidates from 20 countries in 14 categories.
