Vir Das on creating series from lockdown: Novel alternative, for now

Vir Das

The one thing that remained constant during the lockdown is Vir Das' virtual shows which ensured that his fans had a smile on their faces. Between March and June, the actor-comedian did close to 30 shows for which his fans from across the globe bought tickets. The proceeds from each show were directed to different charity organisations. In a new move, Vir has collated excerpts and behind the scenes from these very shows and created a comedy special titled - Inside Out, which is the first-of-its-kind lockdown crowd work show that is completely unscripted. This makes him the first Indian comedian to shoot a comedy special during the lockdown. What sets this special apart from his rest is the fact that this one didn't have any script, it was a conversational series and it was an impromptu comedy that rose from the chats he had with the audiences during his virtual shows.

A source informs, "The teaser of the show comes out today, whereas the full special will premiere on Vir's website - www.weirdasscomedy.com on 17th August. Interestingly, his global audience will have to pay minimum USD 1 per viewing whereas his Indian audiences will pay INR 30 per viewing. Those who wish to contribute more can, as the income from the special will be donated for a good cause working towards Covid Relief which Das will announce prior to the premiere. What started off as a one-off show in April soon converted into a continual series that kept its fans talking and laughing despite the world reeling under the pressure of such uncertain times."

Speaking about it, Vir said, "Week on week the encouraging response kept pouring in and we knew there was enough material to make a special. We recorded all the virtual shows in advance and it's turned out quite interesting. I decided to talk about our collective fears and give it a light touch. In such times when we don't know when we can do our next physical gig or shoot for a special, we thought this was a good way of changing with the changing times. This isn't the new normal honestly but this is a novel alternative, for now."

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