Women are not funny, you say? Ushering in a new era of humour today are India’s comediennes despite a certain preconceived notion of women not being allowed to be funny in a conventional sense. They have a take on most everything and provide a fresh feminist perspective in a traditionally male dominated sphere.
Some popular names are Radhika Vaz, Aditi Mittal, Neeti Palta, Punya Arora and Vasu Primlani. These women and several others are rewriting what women in comedy have stood for – they are redefining and making the Indian stand-up comedy scene very much their own. This new breed is taking on previously held taboo issues head on. They engage virtually, hold discussions offline, and are in their own way creating safe spaces for women to speak their minds, assert themselves and take ownership of their beliefs. They are aware of their appeal and influence over young minds and are using that to encourage and build up other women. The humour is mostly observational and its tagging as ‘female humour’ is mostly owing to the lack of such an observational perspective in the Indian comedy scene, the perspective of a woman. Personal lived experiences also play a strong role in the humour shaping up – most comediennes say that real personal experiences add a dimension of detail and truth that helps audiences connect with them.
The work comediennes do
Neeti Palta easily admits that while her gender got her noticed on the fledgling Indian comedy scene,it has also posed disadvantages. She speaks openly of being offered lesser pay than other male comedians simply for being a woman and of her family being worried about her safety. Another leading comedienne, Aditi Mittal, in her act ‘Things They Wouldn’t Let Me Say’, does a brilliant take on the problems faced by any modern day Indian woman. She hilariously takes on the immense intrigue surrounding sanitary napkins in one such act, showing us in a few short minutes how ridiculous the secrecy around female menstrual hygiene is. Vasu Primlani, an openly lesbian comedienne uses, and in fact, plays up her sexuality onstage, and is greatly helping to bring conversations regarding queer sexuality into the mainstream. She has also been open about the sexual abuse she faced as a child, and discussed it openly, in one such instance bringing attention to how shoddily sexual violence is investigated in India.
Radhika Vaz is known for her acts ‘Unladylike’ and ‘Older, Angrier and Hairier’. Her comedy stand-up acts draw attention to issues resulting from patriarchal oppression and societal taboos. She is unabashedly brash and loud, breaking moulds of how women should be to how she wants to be – in that itself, she serves as an inspiring role model for several young women. Punya Arora vocally expresses the need for equal opportunity for everyone regardless of gender. Her acts talk about boobs and bras, making a strong statement of ownership of one’s own body. Aparna Nancherla speaks of issues of depression and anxiety with a light touch, also using her platform to make powerful feminist statements.
There runs a similar vein of humour through cities across India, these comediennes are telling the story of just being an Indian woman and are getting people to listen. They tackle varied issues of sexual violence, infanticide, body shaming, everyday life, sex, virginity, patriarchy, aging, weddings etc. They are re-examining issues from a fresh perspective that is giving new avenues for dialogue and discussion on these issues.
Some discomfort is good
There does seem to exist, a certain discomfort with specific material if it’s a comedienne stand-up act. The cultural fabric and dimensions of Indian society don’t allow for several topics to be acceptable for conversation publicly. While that may not have changed, stand-up acts are being used by these women to sometimes subtly, and sometimes forcefully, drive across home truths about the need to relook at where we stand today as a people and as a society.
While many laud these women for their impeccable ability to make us laugh, several ambush them with ‘do’s and don’ts’ of what women in comedy should be speaking of. While noticeably there is a heavy focus on women centric issues as part of their stand-up acts – it stands testament to a severe lack of comedy aimed at catering for the female gender or one that tackled their everyday issues. While stand-up comediennes are branching into discussing more varied issues through their well-timed humour, the focus on women centred issues remains, and is in a way a large part of their appeal. This brand of humour is putting everyday issues that women face out for the world to notice, laugh at and then reflect on – it’s bringing these issues out of hidden whispered huddles to something one discusses openly amongst friends and family. One of the key impacts of the emergence of stand-up comediennes and their brand of humour has been a wider visibility for these issues.
Women are also equally vital for the growth of the Indian comedy scene. Recent trends have encouraged more women to look at comedy as a viable career option, and has had many more joining in to explore this field. It’s also created a larger demand, and has seen business shoot up for stand-up comedy acts in places across cities. While comedy may not bring social change, it can definitely bring about a new social consciousness amongst several people. Comediennes entering the fray with a heavy focus on feminist issues has helped pave the way for more dialogue on gender related issues.
The impact though of these performances is mostly on an urban population of a certain economic class. More diversity in language of the comedy and wider acceptance of stand-up comedy as a career option could help create a cohort of young individuals who can tackle social problems through humour in more diverse set ups.