HYDERABAD: Stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui’s show ‘Dhandho’, scheduled to be held in the city on January 9, has been cancelled due to surge in Covid-19 cases in the state.
Speaking to TOI, Faruqui said that he and his team decided to cancel the show as they were expecting a large gathering. “Had it been a show with about 500 people, we would have gone ahead. But, we have sold about 1,500 tickets. Due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation, we had to call off the show,” he said, adding that the ticket money will be refunded to the public in the next three to four days.
The stand-up comic made it clear there was no other reason behind the cancellation of the show except the surge in Covid-19 cases. “It’s true that there has been pressure to cancel the show ever since we announced that I will be performing in Hyderabad. There are a few who are now taking the credit for the cancellation of the show, but, we cancelled only because of Covid-19,” he clarified.
He said that it was too early to say when he would be doing a show in Hyderabad. “I don’t have an open weekend in January and we don’t want to start planning a show in February at this stage as it is hard to predict the Covid-19 situation,” the comdiean added.
While Faruqui’s show has been scheduled for January 9, the Telangana government had announced a ban on rallies, public meetings, and mass gatherings of all types, including religious, political and cultural events from January 1 to January 10. Faruqui’s show had been announced in the city follwing IT minister KT Rama Rao throwing his support to the comedian after his shows were cancelled in several cities, including Bengaluru, following threats by right wing groups.
Soon after his show was announced in the city, BJP leaders had threatened to stall it. Hyderabad and Cyberabad police, meanwhile, claimed that organisers of the show have not approached them for permission to date and that they have no role in cancellation of the show.
Speaking to TOI, Faruqui said that he and his team decided to cancel the show as they were expecting a large gathering. “Had it been a show with about 500 people, we would have gone ahead. But, we have sold about 1,500 tickets. Due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation, we had to call off the show,” he said, adding that the ticket money will be refunded to the public in the next three to four days.
The stand-up comic made it clear there was no other reason behind the cancellation of the show except the surge in Covid-19 cases. “It’s true that there has been pressure to cancel the show ever since we announced that I will be performing in Hyderabad. There are a few who are now taking the credit for the cancellation of the show, but, we cancelled only because of Covid-19,” he clarified.
He said that it was too early to say when he would be doing a show in Hyderabad. “I don’t have an open weekend in January and we don’t want to start planning a show in February at this stage as it is hard to predict the Covid-19 situation,” the comdiean added.
While Faruqui’s show has been scheduled for January 9, the Telangana government had announced a ban on rallies, public meetings, and mass gatherings of all types, including religious, political and cultural events from January 1 to January 10. Faruqui’s show had been announced in the city follwing IT minister KT Rama Rao throwing his support to the comedian after his shows were cancelled in several cities, including Bengaluru, following threats by right wing groups.
Soon after his show was announced in the city, BJP leaders had threatened to stall it. Hyderabad and Cyberabad police, meanwhile, claimed that organisers of the show have not approached them for permission to date and that they have no role in cancellation of the show.
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