It’s going to be rip roaring Saturday in the city. Don’t be surprised if you hear peals of laughter on the road outside the auditoriums. The comedians are in town full strength and hoping to have their audience in stitches with wisecrack after wisecrack.
‘Chennai Laughs’ is the appropriate title of one show featuring Kanan Gill, Sorabh Pant, Jonathan Atherton, Karthik Iyer and Sundeep Rao even as the comedienne Anu Menon is sharpening her wit to entertain in another. Wait, that’s not all. There is Chennai’s very own comedy band — Put Chutney —who will be performing on in yet another event ‘Laugathon’ Saturday.
The ‘Chennai Laughs’ show comes with a social purpose too as the proceeds go to the Spastics Society in association with Madras Round Table 1 whose community services extend to children’s education and healthcare. In a thematic programme, the multi-comedian line up will touch upon many topics like travel, relationships and issues.
Sundeep Rao, India’s only blind comic, is a partially blind person who comes up with plenty of humour. The improvisational actor and voiceover artist is influenced by Indians and inspired by the world. He entered the world of professional standup comics in 2012.
“Comedy is an experience that manifests in laughter — making a room full of people from different backgrounds, mindsets and with various issues come together for a couple of hours and relate to you. In its true sense, comedy breaks down barriers and lets you be free,” he says even as he plans to touch on the “#MeToo” movement while. ‘Bad breath’ and ‘puppy poo’ may be additional punch lines that will have you holding your sides.
“I try and treat the stage as an extension of my life, so I try and do what I do normally”, shares Sandeep. But he is not too keen on feedback on his shows and all he wants to hear is the people’s laughter.
Karthik Iyer makes an appearance after a two-year hiatus, especially because it is Chennai. An actor, voiceover artiste and director; he was one of the first to embark on the Indian standup scene. He is also the original ‘Tam Bram’ comedian. He is also slated to tour solo this year with his much loved ‘Higher Iyer’.
“No comic expects anything. You learn to put in the effort and go have fun with the audience,” Iyer explains.
“Comedy to me is one of the strongest forms of social commentary. To me it is one of the most free forms of expression. There are different styles of comedy and many comics have mastered their craft and genre. My style of comedy is born out of personal experiences and I think that’s what makes the audience relate to what I am talking about. People always enjoy hearing their thoughts echoed in public. I guess it gives people the power to validate their most personal thoughts and feelings while being in a crowd,” he adds.
The king of laughter cheerfully shares the secret of his energy: “The last 15 minutes before a show is almost like going into a boxing match in my head. Am going over my content and telling myself things to get me in the zone”.
Well, note that you have been warned about laughing it out this Saturday, so much that you might hurt your ribs and your funny bone.
