Comic Saikiran interview: On Ranveer Allahbadia controversy, clear comedy, and touring

Slapstick comedian Saikiran Rayaprolu, identified merely as Saikiran, doesn’t imagine in gimmicks. In a stand-up scene the place hyper-local jokes and viral soundbites usually dictate success, he’s a bit completely different. His comedy is just not peppered with city-specific jabs or risqué punchlines — it’s observational, universally relatable, and, notably, clear. “I carry out utterly in English, and a lot of the viewers who come to an English comedy present anyplace in India will get my references,” he says, “I get pleasure from that the identical joke that labored in Delhi labored in Coimbatore and in Kolkata additionally.”

Saikiran, who started his stand-up journey in 2014 after successful an open mic contest, has steadily constructed a loyal fanbase together with his astute observational humour. His upcoming efficiency in Coimbatore is ready to be no completely different. “I like immersing myself in native tradition and exploring the meals of any metropolis I journey to. However I attempt to keep away from making any jokes in regards to the metropolis whereas I’m there,” he says, earlier than including a punchline: “I’ll try this within the subsequent metropolis I carry out in (laughs)”

For a comic who steers away from regional pandering, viewers reception stays key. “A joke going flat hardly ever occurs in a touring present which has already been examined with numerous audiences. Often, some reference will not be understood by an viewers, and I attempt to tweak that by including extra context,” he explains.

The ‘clear comedy’ debate

Saikiran’s comedy has usually been described as ‘clear’ — a time period that’s generally used dismissively in stand-up circles. He, nonetheless, sees no limitation in it. “Surprisingly, it’s not uncommon. Most touring comics, each Indian and worldwide, really do clear. Anybody who does company exhibits additionally has to do it clear. It’s simply that a couple of clips go viral and folks assume ‘clear stand-up’ is uncommon,” he clarifies.

His refusal to bask in edgy or controversial humour is just not out of warning however disinterest. “Sure, I keep away from many matters. Largely as a result of I don’t discover them attention-grabbing or humorous. Writing on a subject means spending days mulling over it. Some matters are prevented assuming the viewers could not react nicely to them. However regardless of what number of matters you quit, there are a lot of extra to speak about. So no dearth of content material.”

The continuing debate round offensive comedy has been reignited by the controversy surrounding Ranveer Allahbadia’s remarks on India’s Bought Latent. Saikiran stays measured in his response. “Not commenting on any specific incident, however the line between edgy and offensive is bigoted and always redrawn. It relies upon quite a bit on time, place, notion and private choice.”

Course of, virality, and scrapped jokes

His most generally shared bit, ‘Darkish Pores and skin & Getting Married,’ amassed tens of millions of views throughout platforms. Whereas the set resonated with audiences, Saikiran doesn’t see his comedy as a instrument for social commentary. “I don’t assume addressing any challenge is a duty, it’s an intuition. I’m a comic and I course of life via my artwork. A painter could paint about it and I’ll joke about it, that’s all. However society will not be keen to see each subject via the comedic lens.”

The method of joke growth, he explains, is iterative. “All of us have ideas, and if you share a thought with somebody they usually snigger at it, it turns into a joke. If no one laughs, then it simply stays a thought. We comics take our ideas to open mics and trial exhibits, check them, and as soon as an increasing number of individuals reinforce our perception that the thought is humorous by laughing, they’re fine-tuned into exhibits.” Some concepts, he says, take months to form, whereas others land immediately.

Inevitably, not each joke survives. “Completely numerous [have been scrapped]. In my head, I believe all the pieces I utter is humorous. However barely one out of 100 jokes makes it to a tour. Comedy careers are affected by useless jokes.”

Since his debut, Indian stand-up has reworked from a distinct segment artwork kind to a cultural phenomenon. “Viewers measurement has exploded. Increasingly more individuals who haven’t watched stand-up are coming to exhibits. Comics are additionally experimenting with the medium. It’s very thrilling occasions to be a comic book in India.”

For Saikiran, the objective is to make individuals snigger — wherever they’re. “The extra private you get, the extra common you might be,” he says. It’s a philosophy that has seen him via over a decade in comedy, and one that can probably proceed to form his work within the years to come back.

Saikiran will probably be performing in Coimbatore on February 23, 6pm onwards at Medai The Stage in Hope School. Tickets, ₹499 onwards, on BookMyShow.