COMICS AND THEIR CRAFT

WHAT BRAND OF COMEDY WORKS FOR YOU?

JOHNNY LEVER

Just the name of India’s Master of Mimicry evokes a smile from generations who have grown up laughing at his jokes. His funny faces are better than Jim Carrey’s? You bet!

he SAID: “Airport pe gaadi bhejne ki kya zaroorat thi. Wahan toh hawai jahaaz hote hain na?”

KAPIL SHARMA

In times of gender equality, he may be faulted for moving back the clock. But Bollywood supports him, and India laughs along.

he SAID: “When Milkha Singh saw his own biopic, he was like ‘...When did I go to Australia and do this kissing scene!?’”

JASPAL BHATTI

The Hindi/punjabi stand-up comic and actor introduced the idea of issue-based sketch comedy on Indian television in the ’80s.

he SAID: “Jo humare dukaan ki mithaiyan khaata hai woh inke dukaan ki davaaiyan zaroor khata hai”

CYRUS BROACHA

The original MTV VJ is a master prankster and Bakra king. He often works with foodie and funny man Kunal Vijaykar.

he SAID: “I have a great desire to serve humanity without ever actually getting off my chair”

aditi MITTAL

One of the few female comediennes on this “manel”, her voice is strong when talking of misogyny, female hygiene and sexuality.

SHE SAID: “I have realised that as a 30-year-old single woman in India, I am like that Tupperware container at the back of the fridge. And you are like, ‘Is this still good?’”

vir DAS

Vir’s Abroad Understanding on Netflix and his strong tweets put him in the club of comics to listen to and think about. Variety magazine agrees.

he SAID: “I came back from America because they couldn’t pronounce my name – they called me ‘weird ass’”

KUNAL KAMRA

His edgy humour is bold and controversial.

he SAID: “One day government will ask, ‘What have you got?’ I say, ‘Yeh 500 ka note.’ They’re like, “No no that’s invalid now”

VARUN GROVER

He is part of the comedy act, Aisi

Taisi Democracy, a major voice of dissent in the country today.

he SAID: “Typical Indian male: They don’t know the difference between love and oppression.”

HASAN minhaj

His new daily show on Netflix has him address issues in America, India and Saudi Arabia, a country, he claims, banned him from entry. “China is next!”

he SAID: “The news coming out of the White House is so stressful, I’ve been watching House of Cards just to relax.”