Malayalam stand-up is gaining acceptance like by no means earlier than in Kerala

Transfer over mimicry and comedy skits. It’s time to roll on the ground with laughter with a gaggle of younger stand-up comedians. Cochin Comedy Challenge’s (CCP) present ‘Sobha Chirikkunnille?’ (Sobha, aren’t you laughing?), a reside ticketed present, is among the performances that’s going locations.

Malayalam has maybe one of many oldest, conventional variations of stand-up comedy in any language, Chakyarkoothu. The performer had the correct to make enjoyable of each particular person within the viewers and neither King nor priest was spared. Nonetheless, whilst many types of parody flourished in Kerala, the trendy model of stand-up comedy by no means actually caught on, as in metros akin to Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bengaluru. However, over the past two years, the style has discovered many practitioners and takers.

Whereas CCP, a collective of stand-up comedians, has lots of reveals lined up, the recognition of stand-up is principally on account of two tv reveals, Funs Upon a Time on Amrita TV and Oru Chiri Iru Chiri Bumper Chiri on Mazhavil Manorama. Individuals throughout age teams are making a beeline to do stand-up in these reveals. Actually, members of CCP too have carried out in these reveals earlier than they turned a part of the collective.

A latest instance of stand-up going mainstream is a stand-up comedy competitors organised by Kerala State Electrical energy Board (KSEB), in reference to its sixty fifth anniversary celebrations. It was open to each the general public and KSEB staff.

It has been solely 10 years since stand-up comedy went skilled within the nation. However, in Kerala, stand-up couldn’t edge out mimicry and comedy skits.

Sruthi Pillai, present director, ‘Oru Chiri Iru Chiri Bumper Chiri’
| Picture Credit score: Particular Association

Deepak Mohan, founding father of CCP, says: “When I discovered that there’s a scope to develop Malayalam stand-up, I considered exploring the scene. I did a reside ticketed present in March 2021, ‘The Irony Man’.” He was later joined by Sabareesh Narayanan and so they did the primary present of ‘Sobha Chirikkunnille?’ in Kochi final November.

The opposite members of CCP are John Joe, Aneez M Latheef, Mahadevan AR and Arjun Sajikumar. “We now have carried out in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode. At every present, stand-up performers from these locations be part of us on stage. There are 13 others who work with us now. We additionally do open mic reveals in Kochi each week to check our content material,” says Deepak.

Stand-up on tv

On the small display screen, Surya Comedy channel aired a stand-up present, Immini Balya Naavu, in 2020, which needed to be discontinued when the pandemic broke out. BC Naufal, producer and coordinator of the present, says that the episodes have been shot at a restaurant in Kochi. “There was no stand-up reveals on Malayalam tv until then. I used to be not eager about restarting it as a result of by then different channels had launched their very own reveals,” he says.

Ramesh Pisharody, Guinness Pakru and Hari P Nair through the shoot of the present ‘Funs Upon A Time’ on Amrita TV
| Picture Credit score: Particular Association

Funs Upon… is produced by stand-up comic-actor-director Ramesh Pisharody. “One purpose why stand-up didn’t turn into in style in Kerala is that the format works with solely a small crowd and we comedians are used to performing for a big viewers. It was the pandemic that created a state of affairs the place we needed to entertain a restricted variety of folks,” says Ramesh.

The present is directed by Hari P Nair, who directed Smile Please, one of many earliest reveals on Malayalam tv (Asianet Plus, 2007) that had the “components of stand-up”. Ramesh was the artistic marketing consultant for the present. “ Smile Please had ‘comedy monoacts’. Funs Upon… is a continuation of my experiments with comedy content material all these years,” says Hari, including that over 100 stand-up practitioners have been featured within the present.

Shajimon Vazhoor in ‘Funs Upon A Time’
| Picture Credit score: Particular Association

Oru Chiri…, which has each stand-up and skits, too was launched across the similar time. “Whereas the primary part had solely video entries since lockdown restrictions have been in place, we performed an open audition final month for brand new contestants. Almost 90% of them opted to do stand-up,” says Sruthi Pillai, present director. Over 200 performers have been a part of the present, within the age group of three to 80-plus! “We had an episode that includes ‘chain stand-up’ the place six of our high contestants carried out collectively,” says Sruthi .

Groomed for the stage

Ramesh and Sruthi admit that contestants typically need assistance with content material and presentation and they also undergo grooming classes. “Firstly, we needed to make them perceive that stand-up will not be mimicry. We requested them to inform us tales peppered with humour. In addition they did check shoots to analyse their performances,” explains Ramesh.

He provides that the Malayalam stand-up can’t emulate different languages. “We now have to customize the content material in response to the viewers. Furthermore, there’s a want to coach the viewers about stand-up comedy generally,” says Ramesh.

Rajan Prabhu, 75, acting on ‘Oru Chiri Iru Chiri Bumper Chiri’
| Picture Credit score: Particular Association

Actor-presenter Sabumon, one of many three judges on Oru Chiri…, provides that doing stand-up on tv has its limitations. “As an example, they will’t use swear phrases to create humour, which could work in a reside present. So the problem lies in creating laughter with relatable content material and clear humour. It was thrilling to take a seat by performances by folks from all walks of life — children, children, homemakers, each day wage labourers, senior residents…. Regardless of the truth that the contestants are groomed and moulded for the format, one has to credit score them for his or her confidence,” says Sabu.

Mahadevan, who participated in each reveals, says that he auditioned for Funs Upon… with the goal of moving into motion pictures. “I had little thought about stand-up then. However having put up good performances on Oru Chiri… and within the reside reveals, I hope to pursue stand-up significantly,” says Mahadevan. John, who has gone viral together with his acts, says that he’s having a good time as a stand-up comedian. “Some contestants are in it for immediate fame or the money prize or to get into motion pictures. Individuals even ship requests on my Instagram web page to assist them get on the present and a few count on me to supply the content material! However, I’m buoyed by the attain that stand-up has obtained,” he says.

Chain stand-up comedy on ‘Oru Chiri Iru Chiri Bumper Chiri’ on Mazhavil Manorama
| Picture Credit score: Particular Association

There are a number of girls additionally within the fray. “Whereas it took a number of years for girls to come back into mimicry, the stand-up scene is completely different,” says Ramesh. Anitta Joshy, a graphic designer-turned-stand-up comedian says that she determined to offer a strive in Oru Chiri… after she watched some performances. “Now I’m at all times on the look out for content material. My dream is to do a reside present,” says Anitta.

Anitta Joshy
| Picture Credit score: Particular Association

Dwell present is a special recreation altogether, say the stand-up comics. “It offers me a special excessive as you get speedy response from the viewers,” says Mahadevan. John provides that getting the viewers concerned within the joke has a special vibe to it. “Whereas sure phrases and usages are taboo on tv there is no such thing as a such restriction in a reside present. That’s the reason ‘Sobha Chirikkunnille?’ is for the 15-plus age group!” he says.

Nisha Achuthan in ‘Funs Upon A Time’
| Picture Credit score: Particular Association

In the meantime, CCP goes all out to advertise stand-up. “There isn’t sufficient Malayalam stand-up content material on YouTube and social media. It’s the expertise of a reside present that sells. So we’re doing a present on April 23 in Kochi to shoot movies. As soon as they click on with the viewers, we hope to do extra reside reveals, podcasts, and even specials by particular person performers,” Deepak says.