A​​​​​ll shows of stand-up comedian Samay Raina in Gujarat have been canceled following the controversy surrounding his YouTube show and accusations of obscenity. Despite this, tickets for the shows in Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vadodara were sold out, reflecting strong demand. FIRs had already been filed by Mumbai and Guwahati police over the content of his performances. The show, titled Samay Raina Unfiltered, was exclusively for adults aged 18 and above. Its title hinted at bold and reckless humor, sparking curiosity and controversy. Tickets, priced at ₹999, were available on BookMyShow, and the 1.5-hour-long performances were scheduled in major cities across Gujarat. Ahmedabad shows at Auda Auditorium on April 19 and 20 had seen rapid bookings, with the April 20, 9 PM show already houseful. Similarly, in Surat, two shows at Sanjeev Kumar Auditorium on April 17 were sold out, with the 8:30 PM slot fully booked. Viral controversy and public outrage The controversy stemmed from clips of the YouTube show India Got Latent, featuring Raina and YouTuber Ranveer Allahabadia. The explicit content of these clips triggered widespread protests across India, leading to FIRs against Raina, Allahabadia, Ashish Chanchalani, Jaspreet Singh, and Apoorva Makhija. Mumbai Police began investigating the matter, with calls for stricter censorship on OTT platforms gaining momentum. Criticism from various quarters Raina, known for his association with Ranveer Allahabadia’s podcast channel BeerBeeps, faced strong backlash from politicians, women’s organizations, artists, and the public. Prominent critics included actor Nilesh Mishra, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate, and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. Protests also erupted in Mumbai, with complaints lodged against the show’s organizers and broadcasters. Protests in Gujarat and cultural concerns The viral clips fueled anger nationwide, sparking debates on freedom of speech and cultural preservation. In Gujarat, the shows faced scrutiny from groups like Bajrang Dal and Kshatriya Sena, which have historically protested against content perceived as attacks on cultural values. The controversy around Samay Raina Unfiltered has reignited discussions about boundaries in comedy, censorship on digital platforms, and the evolving dynamics between art and societal norms.Original Article