“Bangalore has a split personality just like its weather. The people are either quite pious and into their culture, or have been smoking up and haven’t showered for a couple of days because they’re too cool to do it,” deadpans Sharul Channa.
The Indian stand-up comedian from Singapore is winding up her tour of the nation, and Bengaluru with a present this weekend, is her last cease. “From the time I started my show in Mumbai to its conclusion this weekend, I’ve gathered so much material. The people are so vibrant and things here can be quite amusing. I find myself chuckling away even as I’m taking notes.”
She remembers a current incident in Mumbai. “I love Kolhapuris and this was at the height of the Kolhapuri-Prada controversy, so of course I had to get myself a couple to support the artisans. Two foreigners spotted my footwear and pitying the homeless craftsmen wanted to get some, so I opened up Google Maps and pointed out Kolhapur. They went their way, tutting that it was quite far, while I turned a corner and bought myself another pair,” she chortles in absolute glee.
Her sharp-edged humour factors inward too. “It was for a lark and I’m positive they figured it out ultimately. But it’s enjoyable to watch how we soar on to developments; I not solely obtained myself 4 or 5 pairs of these slippers, I obtained them in vegan as a result of I’m one of these crusaders as properly. “
Stand up comedian Sharul Channa
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Sharul admits she enjoys performing in India as “different cities have their own vibe, culture, language, traditions and customs — it’s quite exciting.”
“When I travel across India, I take a break between shows. I went to Uttarakhand for a peaceful trip, then I was in a homestay in Mysore for four days and now I’m in Pondicherry for a bit. I head to these little corners where I find comfort, and in the process, I get a lot of material too.”
Pivoting again to Bengaluru, she says the auto drivers listed here are a category aside (however of course). “I love to take autos there — the drivers should compete for F1. The last time I was there, the auto was going so fast I saw my next two reincarnations. I had to tell him ‘I want to go fast, but I don’t want to go fast’.”
She continues continuous, very similar to these auto drivers. “I decided I’d rather act like I couldn’t speak, than talk to an auto driver in Hindi while in Bangalore. So that’s what I did on another ride. My manager was next to me and I mimed my way through it; the auto driver was quite sweet.”
“Louis Vuitton has introduced a new auto bag and I’m going to get one because the auto will tell me where it wants to go, rather than going where I want it to,” she continues, taking a dig on the notorious perspective of the three-wheeled service suppliers in town.
Stand up comedian Sharul Channa at one of her exhibits
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
“Its a challenge, but I still love the vibe here and the lingo. I think people are way more open in Bangalore.”
Watching a stand-up is enjoyable. Talking to one, even for an article, can be a hoot, particularly since Sharul amuses herself in addition to her viewers, even when it’s a single listener. However, in dialog along with her, one realises the thick accent related to many of her stage exhibits is noticeably lacking.
“In Singapore, we are very good at switching accents. We have a majority Chinese population, followed by Tamilians, and then people of Malay origin. When we are in conversation with different nationalities, we turn our accents around. Its not a racist thing; its a Singaporean habit because of the many people we encounter there,” she says, explaining that the majority of her exhibits are recorded for Asian audiences.
Even although her household moved to Singapore when she was a child, Sharul identifies as an Indian. “We would come back to India for holidays, and though I’m an NRI, I’m quite close to my Indian roots and I’m proud of it,” she says, including that it’s a nod to the title of her present in addition to the rationale why she is commonly seen performing in a sari.
“The Indian identity is very strong — you can move anywhere in the world, but you will not be able to get it out of yourself. Besides my mom is a Hindi teacher and my dad is an Indian chef, so how much more Indian can you get?”
Sharul Channa will current Saree-ously Not Sorry at The Medai-The Stage on August 1 and a couple of, at 8pm. Tickets priced at ₹499 can be found on E bookMyPresent.
