When we speak about standup comics, there is a general paucity of women in the field. Women are just not that funny they say. But then keeping women outside the discourse on some or other excuse is pretty much par for the course; no one heard about the glass ceiling for men. Perhaps in the standup comedy field, sidelining women came with the excuse that women had different stories to tell. That has not stopped female comics from ‘standing up’ to be counted, however. Here some of India’s top female standups and comics you should know about:
So why is it such a big deal for women to be standups? Firstly, of course, this has been a completely male-dominated area for the longest time. Secondly, comedy is all about making observations and then telling it like it is; using the whatever kind of language as may be needed. In other words; swear words, cuss words….unladylike language. This is difficult to do. Not only is it far more acceptable in our society for men to use profanity, it is considered indelicate for women to even broach certain subjects. So for women to crack scatological jokes, call out patriarchy (albeit in a humorous manner) and do all the other stuff that is par for the course for the men…it took time for these women to be accepted and even more for them to become popular.
Aditi Mittal is one of India’s best-known woman standups, and she first burst into the limelight with her audacious routine on sanitary napkins. She then went on to speak about other experiences that women have; particularly Indian women: shopping for bras, meeting men and more. She also is frequently a part of stage shows and sketches such as these. As you can see, she does not mince her words; especially in her avatar as the redoubtable Mrs Lutchuke.
Writer and comedienne Radhika Vaz was an advertising executive before the standup scene claimed her. Her act Older. Angrier. Hairier has garnered positive reactions over the years and having performed at many locations outside India, she has found fans in India and abroad. Here she takes a look at how things differ for men and women and then goes on to say some really unladylike stuff!
She is a woman comic; more precisely she is a Punjabi woman doing comedy making some astute observations about Punjabis, weddings, being hit upon, aunties and even knockers! She talks about how size matters and also makes fun of men; with equal ease, she makes fun of women and their insecurities as well!
She is a standup comic, writer, director and actor who created and acted as Pushpavalli, an Amazon Prime series. Sumukhi Suresh is dubbed as India’s Tina Fey and you have probably seen her in viral videos, comic sketches and more. Watch this completely tangential performance – to me this is very, very reminiscent of A Bit of Fry & Laurie.
We’ve been seeing her on the Cyrus Broacha show, The Week that Wasn’t for years now, but she has been collaborating with other comics to come up with some very, very funny content as well. You’ve probably seen this one before, but it is funny and relatable, and Kaneez is seen in her characteristic chi-chi avatar.
She is all about the ideas and experiences that we all have; Punya Arora gives us her own funny take on these and the stereotypes all around us. She dabbled in photography before she got into the comedy circuit.
She was a copyrighter before she became an internet sensation. Her first big viral hit was Shit People Say – Sarojini Nagar Edition. She is hilarious as Makeup Didi as well.
She was on the TLC show, Queens Of Comedy that got her noticed. Ayushi Jagad is to be found in sketches, funny YouTube videos, roasts and more. She is happy to make fun of her own size and everyone else while she is at it.
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