Watch: Hyderabad comic heckled, threatened at Bengaluru show over 2-year-old Naidu remarks

A stand-up comedy show in Bengaluru turned disorderly on Saturday when a group of protesters, allegedly affiliated with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), stormed the performance of Hyderabad-based comedian Sarat Uday and forced him to publicly apologise — even though he had already done so nearly two years ago for the remarks in question, TOI reported.

The incident occurred at Koramangala in Bengaluru and a video of the disruption has since gone viral on social media, according to the report.

The protest was triggered by jokes Uday had cracked about Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu approximately two years ago. Despite having issued an apology at the time, the group demanded he apologise once more, this time from the stage itself — and he complied.

According to the comedian's account, as reported by TOI, the trouble began almost as soon as he launched into his act. A man from the audience approached him under the guise of being a fan, but proceeded to object to his earlier remarks about Naidu. Others in the venue soon joined in, the group grew larger, abuses were hurled and threats of physical violence followed. The protesters also took issue with Uday's references to the 2003 Naxal assassination attempt on Naidu, warning him against revisiting such content in future performances.

The group reportedly attempted to pressure Uday into raising slogans in support of TDP leaders, a demand he declined, pointing out that his comedy drew on references to multiple political parties, including those in the opposition, TOI reported. The protesters dispersed before police could reach the venue.

The party, however, moved quickly to distance itself from the episode. AP state TDP president and MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao strongly condemned the protest, with TOI quoting him as saying the party would neither encourage such behaviour nor support any protest that impinged upon freedom of speech.

In the same breath, however, Rao cautioned comedians, artistes, political commentators and public figures against what he described as crossing the limits of free expression on sensitive issues, warning that such conduct would provoke angry reactions from the public. He was further quoted in the report as saying that those who believed they could earn instant fame by making indecent or controversial remarks about reputed personalities were thoroughly mistaken.

Saturday's episode is the third of its kind in recent memory involving comedians facing backlash over political satire connected to Andhra Pradesh. The report noted that stand-up comedians Anudeep Katikala and Rafiq Muhammed were previously arrested by AP Police in separate cases for remarks made against politicians from the ruling coalition in the state.