Kunal Kamra makes YouTube content ‘members-only’, launches subscription amid ad limits

Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has announced that much of his YouTube content is “not suitable for advertisers” and will now be available only to paying members. In an Instagram post, Kamra said the move, introducing memberships starting at ₹299 a month, will help him continue creating content without being restricted by advertiser guidelines.

In April, Kamra’s shows were delisted from BookMyShow after a letter from Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) youth leader Rahool N Kanal urged the ticketing platform to cut ties with the comedian over his remarks about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. BookMyShow promptly removed his upcoming shows, triggering a wider debate on platform control, artist rights, and the economics of live performances.

Responding to the delisting, Kamra said he understood the platform’s position but raised concerns about artists losing access to their audiences. He said comedians often spend between ₹6,000 and ₹10,000 a day on advertisements to reach their followers, while platforms charge a 10% commission. “As a solo artist, especially in comedy, we are both the show and the production,” he wrote. “If I’m delisted, I lose access to the audience I’ve built with my own money.”

Read On: ₹10,000 daily: Kunal Kamra breaks silence on cost of reaching audiences on BookMyShow

Rather than calling for a boycott, Kamra asked BookMyShow to share contact details of ticket buyers for his previous shows so he could reach them directly. “I’m not asking for outrage or uninstall campaigns,” he said. “Just the audience I paid to reach.”

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A post shared by Kunal Kamra (@kuna_kamra)

The comedian’s membership announcement was accompanied by a carousel of his previous specials, including Samay Aa Gaya Hai, Propaganda, Uncle Logic, Be Like, and Naya Bharat. The subscription also includes access to documentaries such as Reason, In the Name of God, Too Much Democracy, Jamoora, Nero’s Guests, and The Free Market.

By shifting to a paywall, Kamra joins a growing number of independent creators opting for direct audience support over ad-driven models.

Recently, Kamra faced another dispute with music label T-Series, which filed a copyright complaint against his YouTube special Naya Bharat, uploaded on March 23. The label alleged that the comedian used portions of songs such as Hawa Hawai from Mr. India (1987) and Bholi Si Surat from Dil To Pagal Hai (1997) without permission. Following the complaint, YouTube blocked monetization of the video.

Read On: Kunal Kamra vs T-Series: Copyright dispute & political satire

Reacting to the takedown, Kamra wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Hello T-Series, stop being a stooge. Parody and satire come under fair use legally. I haven’t used the lyrics or original instrumentals. If this video is taken down, every cover song and dance video can be taken down too.”

T-Series maintained that Kamra had used their compositions without authorization. The dispute, however, drew public support for the comedian. Many fans contributed directly through YouTube’s “Super Thanks” feature, sending amounts ranging from ₹400 to ₹10,000. Donations also came from abroad in multiple currencies, including US dollars, British pounds, and UAE dirhams.