In a groundbreaking achievement, comedian Vir Das has clinched the prestigious Best Comedy Series award at the 2023 International Emmy Awards for his show, "Vir Das: Landing." The comic-turned-actor's triumph was especially noteworthy as his show shared the accolade with the popular British teen sitcom, "Derry Girls."
The Netflix-streamed comedy special, which premiered in 2022, competed in the Best Comedy Series category against strong contenders like France’s "Le Flambeau" and Argentina’s "El Encargado." The victory marks Vir Das' inaugural International Emmy Award, signifying a significant milestone for both him and the Indian comedy scene.
The official announcement from the Emmy Awards on Instagram read, "We have a Tie! The International Emmy for Comedy goes to 'Vir Das: Landing,' produced by Weirdass Comedy / Rotten Science / Netflix." Vir Das expressed his surreal joy at the win, stating, "Winning an Emmy for 'Vir Das: Landing' in the Comedy Category is not just a milestone for me but for Indian comedy as a whole."
Two other Indian talents, Jim Sarbh and Shefali Shah, were nominated for the awards but they did not secure wins. Jim Sarbh contended in the Best Actor category for his role in SoyLIV’s "Rocket Boys," while Shefali Shah vied for Best Actress for her performance in the Netflix series "Delhi Crime." Martin Freeman and Karla Souza emerged victorious in these categories, respectively.
The night also witnessed a special honour as producer Ekta Kapoor received the International Emmy’s Directorate Award. Kapoor, the first Indian to receive this accolade, expressed gratitude, saying, "This award allows me to represent [women] and our shared accomplishments on an international level."
The International Emmys, presented by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, recognise excellence in television content from around the world, encompassing languages beyond English.