Comedy without malice
10 years, 1 month ago

Comedy without malice

The Hindu  

P resident Nominated: Members of both Houses of Parliament today nominated a stately Eucalyptus tree as the 17th President of India. With millions writhing on the floor in uncontrollable laughter, comics liberally spray the audience with an undercurrent of Indian foibles — people’s differences, the shrill hot-headed awareness of identity, religious practices, all come loaded with messages of hate. The position of women in society, the preference for white skin, class and caste — more than any other place, a repressed society needs comedy to mirror issues that affect us all. With highway speeds of a miserly 100 kilometres per hour, the Department of Roads proposed a separate no speed limit lane for platinum card customers; business centres in the better Dubai hotels advertised Geisha girls on a menu card stating price and timing. So as stand-up comedy screams and hisses about race and homophobia and rape, the old drawing rooms and courtyards remain embroiled in selecting fair skinned sons in-law, coyly draped bahus who will happily lurk in domestic backgrounds, without ever sounding the horn of feminism or asking for equal pay for equal work; people will remain abusive towards North Easterners, calling them foreigners in their own country.

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History of this topic

Varun Sharma: The Unstoppable Force of Indian Comedy
1 month, 1 week ago

Varun Sharma: The Unstoppable Force of Indian Comedy

Deccan Chronicle  

There’s a reason why filmmakers return to certain actors time and again—because they bring something irreplaceable to the table. Varun Sharma’s strength lies in the authenticity he brings to humor. Whether it’s his wide-eyed innocence in Fukrey, his quick-witted banter in Dilwale, or his hilarious romantic dilemma in Roohi, his comedy never feels forced. Whether it’s Sexa’s camaraderie in Chhichhore …

Ranveer Allahbadia, Samay Raina controversy: The serious business of 'jokes'
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Ranveer Allahbadia, Samay Raina controversy: The serious business of 'jokes'

Op India  

Having been a satirist and humorist by profession once, I suddenly realize that it’s a crime if I don’t dispense gyaan on controversies around Ranveer Allahbadia aka BeerBicepsGuy who has now apologized for his ‘joke’, though the issue has now reached police; FIR has been registered, national child commission has issued notice, and one Rajya Sabha MP from Uddhav Sena …

Ranveer Allahbadia, Samay Raina controversy: The serious business of 'jokes'
Trending News
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Ranveer Allahbadia, Samay Raina controversy: The serious business of 'jokes'

Op India  

Having been a satirist and humorist by profession once, I suddenly realize that it’s a crime if I don’t dispense gyaan on controversies around Ranveer Allahbadia aka BeerBicepsGuy who has now apologized for his ‘joke’, though the issue has now reached police, FIR has been registered, national child commission has issued notice, and one Rajya Sabha MP from Uddhav Sena …

Varun Sharma: The unstoppable force of Indian comedy
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Varun Sharma: The unstoppable force of Indian comedy

Firstpost  

There’s a reason why filmmakers return to certain actors time and again—because they bring something irreplaceable to the table. Varun Sharma’s strength lies in the authenticity he brings to humor. Whether it’s his wide-eyed innocence in Fukrey, his quick-witted banter in Dilwale, or his hilarious romantic dilemma in Roohi, his comedy never feels forced. Whether it’s Sexa’s camaraderie in Chhichhore …

Behind Samay Raina's rising stardom: Why Indian Gen Zers can't get enough of him
2 months ago

Behind Samay Raina's rising stardom: Why Indian Gen Zers can't get enough of him

India Today  

What is the one thing that you do when you are sad? Dipra Agarwal, a counselling psychologist at Allen Career Institute, Bangalore, who is also a paid member of Samay’s India’s Got Latent, explains that audiences find him relatable because of the way he has presented himself. “Disrespecting people with disabilities is not dark humour,” says Tinkesh Kaushik to India …

Supreme Court weighs ban on sardar jokes, urges steps to sensitise society against Sikh stereotypes
4 months ago

Supreme Court weighs ban on sardar jokes, urges steps to sensitise society against Sikh stereotypes

Live Mint  

The Supreme Court of India has underscored the importance of addressing the circulation of offensive jokes targeting the Sikh community, emphasising the need to sensitise both children and society at large. The remarks came during a hearing on Thursday in a 2015 public interest litigation filed by Sikh lawyer Harvinder Chowdhury, seeking a ban on such jokes, reported Hindustan Times. …

Comedy Is About Spreading Joy, Says Comedian Azeem
4 months, 1 week ago

Comedy Is About Spreading Joy, Says Comedian Azeem

Deccan Chronicle  

Hyderabad: Amidst the Comic Con extravaganza of superheroes, anime characters, and pop culture enthusiasts was Azeem Banatwalla, effortlessly blending in with his green Star Wars sweatshirt featuring a Yoda silhouette and the Jedi master’s iconic line, “Do or do not. After his performance, Azeem sat down with Deccan Chronicle to share his thoughts on comedy, identity, and why performing in …

From Axe to Badminton: Abhijit Ganguly's Journey to Stand-Up Comedy
5 months, 1 week ago

From Axe to Badminton: Abhijit Ganguly's Journey to Stand-Up Comedy

New Indian Express  

Abhijit Ganguly, a prominent stand-up comedian, discusses his journey and the evolution of his humor. He reveals that he finds comedy in the mundane and transforms everyday observations into moments of laughter. He also shares his unique connection with the Chennai style of no-nonsense dry humor, which he finds relatable.

Vir Das: The biggest misconception about humour is that it is not universal
1 year, 7 months ago

Vir Das: The biggest misconception about humour is that it is not universal

Hindustan Times  

With many comedy specials to his name, Vir Das is a known name in the Indian as well as international comedy space. The actor-comedian says, “One of the biggest misconceptions about humour is that it’s not universal.” Currently on his world tour, Das adds, “Funny is funny. But, if you second-guess yourself what they are going to like and reverse …

Comedy Culture is all things filmy and entertainment
2 years, 6 months ago

Comedy Culture is all things filmy and entertainment

Deccan Chronicle  

Instagram, as we know it is all about fun and entertainment. AajTak news channel telecasted news "Salman khan ko Mila BandookkaLicense " Comedy Culture rushed to film Om Shanti Om, edited Shah Rukh Khan's face to Deer's and used the dialogue "Bhagoo." Taking to IBC 24's recent headline "PatnikoHua "Saand" se Pyaar, Roti khaaneaatatha Roz, abracaheygiShaadi, Saand me pati se …

Comicstaan season 3 reveals Indian reality TV at its best
2 years, 7 months ago

Comicstaan season 3 reveals Indian reality TV at its best

Firstpost  

There is a long history of the link between Indian comedy and reality TV in India. An ethos built by the The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, sustained by Comedy Circus and contemporised by the various regional spin offs like Hasya Jatra and Tamil Comicstaan. Raju Srivastav inverted Kabir’s doha on ego elimination when he once joked in a candid interview …

Finding humour In Jathi Ratnalu: How the film is a worthy addition to Telugu cinema's tryst with comedy
4 years ago

Finding humour In Jathi Ratnalu: How the film is a worthy addition to Telugu cinema's tryst with comedy

Firstpost  

Jathi Ratnalu, starring Naveen Polishetty, has been hailed as the funniest film of the year, and its blockbuster status at box-office is proof enough that it has found widespread acceptance among the viewers. Explaining the evolution of comedy, screenwriter Gopi Mohan says, “Back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, filmmakers like Jandhyala, Relangi Narasimha Rao created a certain benchmark for comedy …

Is India criminalising comedy and entertainment?
4 years, 1 month ago

Is India criminalising comedy and entertainment?

The Hindu  

Producers of entertainment content, especially stand-up comedians, are increasingly becoming the target of legal action. Agrima Joshua: There’s no such thing as a pro-government comedian because the very essence of comedy is to be audacious, to make fun of the people in power. Arti Raghavan: I’m sure there would be a police officer who may privately agree with you that …

Patralekha Chatterjee | Can we really laugh our way to a stronger democracy?
4 years, 1 month ago

Patralekha Chatterjee | Can we really laugh our way to a stronger democracy?

Deccan Chronicle  

Can one really laugh one’s way to a stronger democracy at a time when one stand-up comedian in the country is in the jail for a joke he didn’t crack and an affidavit by another tells the Supreme Court that “the suggestion that my tweets could shake the foundations of the most powerful court in the world is an overestimation …

What Muslim comedians are really up to
4 years, 1 month ago

What Muslim comedians are really up to

Live Mint  

“I started off doing the typical ‘Muslim jokes’ about circumcision and suicide bombers, but after a while I started questioning myself—why am I doing this? Well, this seemed a great way to combine the two.” Abbas Momin Even as Munawar Faruqui, an Indian Muslim comedian, continues to be held in jail for a joke he did not even crack, a …

Is India Hasmukh Enough?
4 years, 10 months ago

Is India Hasmukh Enough?

Live Law  

Hasmukh, a show streaming on Netflix starring Vir Das has been in the news due to the legal controversy it has found itself in. Winfield defines tortious defamation as "a publication of a statement which reflects on a person's reputation and tends to lower him in the estimation of the right thinking members of the society generally or tends to …

As coronavirus lockdown hits India's comedy scene, many faced with financial crunch, uncertain future
4 years, 11 months ago

As coronavirus lockdown hits India's comedy scene, many faced with financial crunch, uncertain future

Firstpost  

On social media, comedians are finding ways to make followers laugh during the lockdown, but for them it’s no laughing time. “In the West, where it’s far less informal with comedy clubs, contracts and agents, you’re still never assured a stable income for two years. As for Mumbai’s migrants to locals ratio, Tanwar estimates a 40:60 split, adding that “minus …

Comedy is one of the toughest genres to execute: Anees Bazmee
5 years, 5 months ago

Comedy is one of the toughest genres to execute: Anees Bazmee

India TV News  

Filmmaker Anees Bazmee, who is gearing up for the release of his next directorial venture Pagalpanti, has said that comedy is one of the toughest genres to execute for a big audience. "I have written scripts of many films including emotional drama, romantic films and suspense thrillers but even today, I honestly feel scared when I write a comedy because …

The laughter clubbers!
6 years, 9 months ago

The laughter clubbers!

Deccan Chronicle  

Whether your social life is ‘LIT’ or not; everyone needs a breather to break away, and switch off from the rut. Fests give people a healthy mix, gives local comedians the chance to be on the lineup of an event, which would have 10 times the crowd as compared to a single gig. I would also say that comedy shows …

Rahul Subramanian on the Indian stand-up comedy scene: 'I want comics to be able to say anything'
6 years, 11 months ago

Rahul Subramanian on the Indian stand-up comedy scene: 'I want comics to be able to say anything'

Firstpost  

“I tell jokes about whatever I think is funny. Rahul Subramanian has rapidly become one of the most recognisable faces in Indian stand-up comedy, and he’s very much aware of it. “Yesterday Kumar Varun and I were shooting for a sketch which had an office setup”, says Rahul with a guileless grin on his face, “and there was a moment …

Has Indian politics lost the art of harmless laughter?
7 years ago

Has Indian politics lost the art of harmless laughter?

Hindustan Times  

To write, speak or even think ‘seriously’ on the subject of laughter has to be absurd. One essential characteristic of the laugh that laughs non-derisively is that while it can laugh at what it sees, that is, at the world, it can also laugh at its own self, the laugher London’s School of Oriental and African Studies held a seminar …

Karan Wahi: Comedy in India is one-dimensional, making fun of someone is considered funny
7 years, 1 month ago

Karan Wahi: Comedy in India is one-dimensional, making fun of someone is considered funny

Hindustan Times  

Karan Wahi, who has done a few comedy shows on television, calls the experience enriching. Karan Wahi is open to doing comedy shows, but the offer needs to be appealing enough. He says, “It gives an actor endless opportunities to perform and that’s why actors enjoy doing such shows.” The actor has only done non-fiction comedy shows on the tube …

The daring comedians pushing boundaries
7 years, 6 months ago

The daring comedians pushing boundaries

BBC  

The daring comedians pushing boundaries Netflix US comics of South Asian descent are telling new kinds of stories – and winning fans from many different backgrounds, writes Laya Maheshwari. Alamy Minhaj has become a Daily Show star with his coverage of the US national political conventions in 2016 and his hosting of the White House Correspondents dinner Aziz Ansari is …

Vir Das thinks Indians lack sense of humour and they read too much into the jokes
7 years, 11 months ago

Vir Das thinks Indians lack sense of humour and they read too much into the jokes

Hindustan Times  

Vir Das is completely in love with his job. The stand-up comedian enjoys doing shows in India but complains that Indians need to have a better sense of humour and enjoy jokes rather than reading between the lines. Comedian-actor Vir Das feels that censorship of any kind is wrong and jokes should not be taken seriously. “I think we, Indians …

Why an increasing number of stand-up comedians are choosing to talk in Hindi
8 years ago

Why an increasing number of stand-up comedians are choosing to talk in Hindi

Hindustan Times  

In the last seven odd years, we’ve seen the rise of stand-up comedy in a way no one really anticipated. Not what you’d expect Until recently, Hindi comedy was associated with what we saw on TV: shows such as The Great Indian Laughter Challenge or Comedy Circus in the mid-2000s were immensely popular. They said, ‘Hume yeh wali Hindi nahi …

Vir Das on the shifting sands of stand-up comedy in India
8 years, 5 months ago

Vir Das on the shifting sands of stand-up comedy in India

Hindustan Times  

Over the last few years, India has witnessed a slew of stand-up comedians and comic groups burgeon — with the likes of AIB, comedian Kanan Gill and others now swanking a huge fan base. Actor-comedian-singer Vir Das, who is considered to be the first one to make a living out of the profession, believes comedy has become “an extremely lucrative …

From Mehmood to Tanmay Bhat: How Indian comedy has changed over the years
8 years, 9 months ago

From Mehmood to Tanmay Bhat: How Indian comedy has changed over the years

India TV News  

New Delhi: Humour plays a key role in our lives. While that was the time of ‘innocent’ comedy, the trend changed with time to sarcastic shows, and we saw Sarabhai v/s Sarabhai and Khichdi. Shows like ‘The Great Indian Laughter Challenge’ and ‘Comedy Nights With Kapil’ gave new dimensions to stand-up comedy. Several stand-up comedy shows were launched at that …

Is comedy a crime?
8 years, 9 months ago

Is comedy a crime?

Deccan Chronicle  

Most people think of Siberia as one of the coldest, most inhospitable places on earth. It also has accomplished groups of “laughtivists”, activists whose trademark is hilarity, famous political activist Srdja Popovic tells us in his seriously funny book Blueprint for Revolution. Comedian Bhat’s Snapchat video mocking two of India’s greatest icons, Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar, is now a …

Comedy scenes in Indore with Sapan and Angad
8 years, 10 months ago

Comedy scenes in Indore with Sapan and Angad

Hindustan Times  

The comic scene in Indore has started to grow with stand-up comedians coming to the city to perform live. After Sorabh Pant’s live performance last month, Indore had another laughter session recently where members of East India Comedy – Sapan Verma and Angad Singh Ranyal came to perform here at The 78 Boulevard. Whereas Facebook and Twitter give you free …

A good laugh
9 years, 2 months ago

A good laugh

The Hindu  

At a jam-packed session on the front lawns of the Diggi Palace, a session at the JLF on ‘What Makes South Asians Laugh?’ saw journalist-turned-author Sidin Vadukut, actor Meera Syal, and Suhel Seth in conversation with Sri Lankan writer Ashok Ferry. I feel comedy is universal.” Is the South Asian sense of humour location specific? Especially so when the Merc …

Tisca Chopra wants to entertain audiences with comedy
9 years, 5 months ago

Tisca Chopra wants to entertain audiences with comedy

India TV News  

Mumbai: Actress Tisca Chopra, most popular for her work in films such as "Taare Zameen Par" and "Rahasya", says that she wants to do comedy films because she wants to "entertain the audiences in a particular way". I feel like doing comedy because I want to entertain the audience in a particular way," Tisca told media after a debate related …

It’s no laughing matter
9 years, 8 months ago

It’s no laughing matter

The Hindu  

“I am proud that, like Mark Twain, I have been able to use humour to lessen people’s hatred.” — African-American comedian Richard Pryor If we are to go by TRP ratings, it would seem that the nation has not laughed as hard as it has in the last two years, since “Comedy Nights with Kapil” — India’s highest-rated non-fiction television …

Has satire come of age in Indian politics?
10 years, 10 months ago

Has satire come of age in Indian politics?

Al Jazeera  

India’s mammoth parliamentary election has provided plenty of material for satirists and comedians as political shenanigans evolved during the more than a month of high-pitch political campaigning. In the book, they pose questions like, “Why is Narendra Modi’s favourite movie The Lion King?”, “How Sonia Gandhi reshuffles her cabinet with a little help from Britney Spears?” and “Why Arvind Kejriwal …

Dire need of humour in bad times
11 years, 8 months ago

Dire need of humour in bad times

India Today  

If ever a nation needed a dose of humour, it would be India at this present moment. Children die eating poisoned food in their mid-day meals, massive natural disaster becomes a political circus, our urban agglomerations remain insanely unsafe for women, Chinese troops keep taking strolls into Indian territory, and our economic prospects look alarming, certainly in the short term. …

'Laugh India Laugh' not to have double meaning jokes: Shekhar
12 years, 8 months ago

'Laugh India Laugh' not to have double meaning jokes: Shekhar

India TV News  

Mumbai: Actor Shekhar Suman, who will be seen hosting ‘Laugh India Laugh' TV show, today said that it would be a “clean and neat” show, without any double meaning jokes. “It is a clean and neat comedy show minus double meaning jokes.TV is a family medium and one can't show anything bold and all. Co-judge Chunky Pandey feels there are …

The Bureaucrat is inspired by Anna Hazare's protest, says Anuvab Pal
12 years, 9 months ago

The Bureaucrat is inspired by Anna Hazare's protest, says Anuvab Pal

Firstpost  

Wisecracks, tongue-in-cheek humour and in-your-face honesty: that’s Anuvab Pal for you. That’s the starting point but it becomes the exploration of a home minister’s office where various other problems sort of mount up—people asking for bribe, people complaining everyday and the sorts. It is like Yes, Prime Minister ‘ish’ in a way—the first half feels it’s just a political satire …

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