Vir Das makes history by taking home the trophy for the best unique comedy at the 2023 International Emmy’s, for his comedy special ‘Vir Das: Landing.’
Our Bureau
New York/New Delhi
Comedian Vir Das is on cloud nine as he received the Emmy Award for his comedy special ‘Vir Das: Landing’ home. He shared a picture with his trophy and expressed gratitude. Taking to Instagram, Vir posted a series of pictures expressing his happiness. Sharing the pictures, he wrote, “For India. For Indian comedy. Every breath, every word. Thank you to the @iemmys for this incredible honour.”
The award for the Comedy Category was a tie, with ‘Derry Girls Season 3’ also receiving the recognition.
Talking about winning at the International Emmy Awards, Vir expressed his excitement and 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”.
He added, “This award is not just a recognition of my work but a celebration of the diverse stories and voices from India. Stories that make us laugh, reflect, and, most importantly, unite. This one is for India, for Indian comedy and for the community of artists at large.”
‘Vir Das: Landing’ marks his fourth Netflix’s comedy special that presents a show about what it means to be truly global while looking for home. To carry your country across the world with you, whatever that country is, and to find your feet. A show about growing up in India, seeing the globe, love troubles, colossal failures, social media madness, the perils of outrage, unplanned drugs, war-zone boarding schools, metaphorical mathematical equations, the current state of comedy, getting nominated, getting intoxicated, and ultimately just getting situated.
‘Vir Das: Landing’ which premiered on the OTT platform Netflix, was competing with Le Flambeau from France, El Encargado from Argentina, and Derry Girls Season 3 from the UK. Earlier, Vir’s third standup special ‘Vir Das: For India’ received a 2021 International Emmy Nomination for “Best Comedy.”
Co-Indian nominees Shefali Shah and Jim Sarbh congratulated him on this big win. Taking to Instagram story, Shefali posted a picture of Vir and wrote, “CONGRATULATIONS @virdas. You make us so so so proud.”
Sharing Vir’s picture with his Emmy trophy, Shefali wrote, “@virdas U WON THIS FOR ALL OF US.”
Jim Sarbh also posted for Vir Das on his Instagram story.
Marking a significant milestone in his illustrious career, Vir Das bagged an award for special comedy. He was competing with Le Flambeau from France, El Encargado from Argentina, and Derry Girls Season 3 from the UK. A day before the award ceremony, Vir Das posted a video on his Instagram story in which he said ‘The day he was called a terrorist, he was nominated for the Emmys’. He wrote, “The universe is a full circle. So just wanted to say thanks and that if anyone out there is ever in the dark, stay till sunlight, and know that love will find you, and the universe will carry you.”
Vir Das returned to New Delhi, India, after accepting the honour in New York on Wednesday. Vir Das expressed his gratitude to the media at New Delhi Airport for the honour. He said, “I am very happy to bring this home. Now, I have a show in Panchkula, so I will go to Panchkula and then to Bengaluru. This award will tour India like me and I am very excited. We are here because of people who came before us, like Johnny Lever. I would love to do a show with Johnny Lever, as he is my idol. I think he is the greatest live comedy artist. I think hopefully this is the first award for Indian Comedy International but not the last, hopefully, many comedians can win it.” Johnny Lever is an Indian film actor and one of the most noted comedians in Hindi cinema. Lever is one of the first stand-up comedians in India. Das added, “There is love for India in every joke of mine and there will be love in every joke in the future as well. If you love your nation, write about it.”
