Most of us are familiar with English stand-up comedy. How about Tamil stand-up comedy?
Annamalai Lakshmanan alias Mala, a resident of Valasaravakkam and founder of Tanglish Comedy, is popularising the art of Tamil stand-up comedy.
Being the first stand-up comedy show organiser in the region, Mala, an engineering graduate, has a deep love for the arts.
He had actively pursued and practised theatre, poetry (since the age of 11) and has dabbled in films as a writer, performer, an editor and a director.
In a chat with News Today, Mala shared his ideas about Tamil stand-up comedy.
Q: How did you become a stand-up comedian?
A: A series of events converged and I took up the art form of stand-up comedy in June 2015. From the first show, I have performed in Tamil to be true to my mother tongue, culture and roots. All the stand-up comedy avenues available in Chennai at the time (2015-16) were in English. After being the lone Tamil stand-up comedy performer in several open mics, and with a burning desire to start a platform which encourages and promotes Tamil stand-up comedy, I started Tanglish Comedy. The first show was held 10 August 2016.
Q: How has your journey been so far?
A: My team is the first ever Tamil language stand-up comedy movement that completed two years of existence this August. We have conducted 60 consecutive open mics from 10 August 2016 to 27 September 2017. Along with that, we have conducted 18 public shows. Tanglish Comedy has become close to the Tamil diaspora. So, we launched Comedy Sabha, a platform for Tamil language stand-up comedy, and Sketch Comedy. The first four editions were held in T Nagar and it has now moved to Valasaravakkam. Comedy Sabha 5.0 and 6.0 were successfully conducted at our own Valasaravakkam to bring in more local audience.
Q: Where are you heading to?
A: We want to take Tamil live comedy to as many people as possible. With a rich legacy of comedians throughout our history, Tamil language and comedy are inseparable. In this modern day and age, where the electronic /digital medium is occupying most of people’s time and mind space, we intend to deliver the joy, energy, rejuvenation of a live Tamil comedy show.
Q: At a time when English stand-up comedy has extensive fan following, how are Tamil shows received?
A: English and Western comedy are different from Tamil comedy that suits our roots and culture. Standup comedy is a western art form by origin and, hence, metropolitan cities in India like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru started the culture of stand-up comedy in public places. English-speaking comedians catered to English-speaking audiences. But nothing beats comedy in our own mother tongue. There is more of a connect, relatability and feel when the comedy is in Tamil. English comedy can be cerebral but Tamil comedy can touch hearts.
Q: How much of talent have you identified?
A: We have more than 100 comedians (about eight women comediennes) performing stand-up comedy and Sketch Comedy in several languages like Tamil, Tanglish, English, Hindi, Hinglish in the six Comedy Sabhas and 60 open mics. A majority of these comedians are based out of Chennai but then if you trace their roots, quite a few are from small towns or other cities of Tamilnadu like Madurai, Tiruchi, Coimbatore, Dindigul. We also had a steady stream of north Indian comedians (Bengal, Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi, Goa,) who have performed at our platform in English, Hinglish or Hindi.
Q: How is Tanglish Comedy being received in interior areas like Vadapalani, Virugambakkam and Valasaravakkam?
A: Stand-up comedy shows usually happen in Nungambakkam, Adyar, Besant Nagar, Egmore, T Nagar and areas around them. It is with the intent that we have brought Comedy Sabha to Valasaravakkam. I have been a resident at Alwarthirunagar for the past 15 years and I am quite familiar with the Vadapalani-Porur stretch. Usually, stand-up comedy shows are filled with youth audience but ever since we brought Comedy Sabha to Valasaravakkam, there has been a healthy and strong family audience that has turned up for both our shows so far. Valasaravakkam has warmed up to Tamil comedy and it is a pleasure to see aunties, uncles turn up at our shows.
CATCH THE COMEDY SHOW
Comedy Sabha, happens every Wednesday at Voice Culture Studio, Valasaravakkam behind Tanishq Jewellery. Mala can be reached at 98845 23897 or [email protected]