Race to the top: Indo-American comedian talks about anxiety, depression on stage

Indian-origin comedians in the US, in the recent past, have seen their fair share of success. From Mindy Kaling’s incredibly popular The Mindy Project to Aziz Ansari’s critically-acclaimed — and Emmy nominated — Master Of None, they’ve been gradually making their presence felt in the West and internationally, having begun their careers as writers and stand-up comedians.

One such comedianne is Aparna Nancherla, a Telugu-American, who has been rising up the ranks with her instantly recognisable drawl. Her work spans writing for Web series and TV shows such as Late Night with Seth Meyers, to stand-up. Her latest original work has been featured on an album and a recently-concluded tour Just Putting It Out There.

Growing up in Washington, the 34-year-old says comedy came to her “by chance” when she was on a break from college. “I had developed an interest in humour and humour writing towards the end of high school. I tried it on a whim and happened to enjoy it enough that I wanted to pursue it further. I ended up doing that once I graduated from college and moved back home in DC area,” Aparna says.

Her parents, both doctors who moved to the US from Hyderabad a few years before she was born, made sure that though Aparna was raised in the West, she was also in touch with her Indian roots and culture at home.

“I definitely grew up partaking of both American/Western culture, as well as attending plenty of Indian and Telugu community events through my parents and their friends, Hinduism study groups, and the temple,” says Aparna.

Aparna adds, “My parents would also speak in Telugu to each other, as well as with my sister and me, and in Hindi with our nanny.” Currently based in New York, Aparna’s dry, observational style of humour, coupled with her own opinion-laden commentary is instantly relatable.

And while she struggles with her own personal issues such as anxiety and depression, she uses them as tools to write material that’s not just refreshingly funny, but also smart and familiar.

“Being in an erratic industry can sometimes exacerbate depressive and anxious tendencies. It’s a double-edged sword, but I find it valuable to connect to people over mental health issues and bring more awareness to them,” explains Aparna.

The comedianne also feels that race, while it has taken a backseat in mainstream minority-rooted comics’ material, can still be a rich and powerful source for comedic art.

“I don’t know if I’d say they’ve moved beyond race as much as it isn’t necessarily the focal point of their work,” she says of Aziz Ansari and Mindy Kaling’s shows, and adds, “It’s tricky when you are representing a minority group because you can’t necessarily voice every person’s distinct experience from within that group. You can only speak for yourself, but I think there’s still power in telling each of those stories.”

The Internet, she adds, has helped stand-up comediannes like her tell those stories in newer forms to an audience that wants to listen: “Yes, it is easier than ever to put your own content out there. But that means there is a lot more content to compete with overall, with ranging quality. I think it is a good thing though in terms of honing your voice and finding a distinct audience for your work. It definitely has helped to have alternate networks like Netflix and Amazon.”

She doesn’t know when she’ll be visiting or performing in Hyderabad, but she is looking forward to doing so. “Yes, we used to come there every other summer when I was a kid, and somewhat less frequently since my schedule has gotten busier. I always enjoy getting to see my extended family there and travelling around a bit and seeing what has changed and how,” Aparna says.