What India Needs: Comedy, Censorship & Cancel Culture with Arvind Sunder Artwork

What India Needs with Shutapa Paul

Join Shutapa Paul as she delves into social, economic, and environment issues that should matter, speaks to inspiring individuals, while diving deep into every conversation.

Shutapa Paul is an anchor, commenter, author, and media entrepreneur. She has spent almost two decades within the media space, first as a journalist, and now as a media entrepreneur. Currently, she is Founder of award-winning brand-building and communications company, Dharma Media Consultants, where she has been working closely within the investing, startup, and impact ecosystem.

Shutapa has been recognised as:

- BW 40 Under 40 (PR & Corp Comm)
- BW Excel Communications Personality of the Year
- Social Samosa 40 Under 40
- Agency Reporter 40 Under 40
- LinkedIn ‘Top Voice’
- ‘100 Women Faces’ by the Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs
- ‘Woman of the Year in Media and Journalism’ by Woman Times
- Sattva Nation’s Iconic Wellness Award

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What India Needs with Shutapa Paul

What India Needs: Comedy, Censorship & Cancel Culture with Arvind Sunder

May 15, 2026 • Shutapa Paul • Season 4 • Episode 6

0:00 | 57:52

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Comedy in India can make you famous, have you cancelled, or even arrested.

In this episode, Shutapa Paul sits down with comedian Arvind Sunder to explore the changing landscape of stand-up in India. From censorship and ‘cancel’ culture to social media outrage and the pressure of being politically correct, Arvind Sunder shares his honest take on what it really means to be a comedian in India.

The conversation also dives into the business of stand-up, regional humour, the role of comedians in society, and why India needs to laugh more than ever.

Catch the full conversation on YouTube or listen on Spotify.

#WhatIndiaNeeds #Podcast #standupcomedy #comedyindia #cancelculture #censorship #indiancomedy #freedomofspeech #humour #comedian

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00:00:00 - Introduction

00:02:28 - India’s unique sense of humour across cultures and regions

00:05:47 - Cancel culture, backlash and surviving as a comedian in India

00:09:30 - The craft of making difficult subjects funny

00:11:37 - The dream of reaching every Indian

00:16:24 - Is stand-up comedy in India actually difficult?

00:17:48 - Social media outrage vs live comedy audiences

00:19:30 - Comedy and censorship

00:21:57 - Dark humour, offensive jokes and a comedian’s responsibility